Macron Rushes To Check On Guard Who Collapsed While Welcoming Slovak President | Video

Last Updated:November 12, 2026, 5:38 PM IST

As is customary during visits by foreign leaders,the Republican Guards welcomed the Slovak President with a ceremonial guard of honour, dressed in full uniform and carrying sabres.

Macron rushed towards the guard to check on him, accompanied by his staff members. (Image: Reuters)

Two guards deployed outside French President Emmanuel Macron’s official residence, the Elysee Palace, collapsed one after the other as the French leader welcomed his Slovak counterpart on Wednesday.

The two guards belonged to France’s elite Republican Guard. As is customary during visits by foreign leaders, the Republican Guards welcomed Slovak President Peter Pellegrini with a ceremonial guard of honour, dressed in full uniform and carrying sabres.

A video capturing the moment the two guards lost consciousness has surfaced on X. The footage was shared by news agency Reuters. At the beginning of the video, Macron can be seen standing outside the Palace to welcome Pellegrini.

Watch The Video Here

A few moments later, one of the guards, who was standing at the end of the queue, collapsed against a pillar, drawing the French President’s attention. Macron rushed towards the guard to check on him, accompanied by his staff members. Soon after, other personnel carried the guard away.

Macron then proceeded to greet his Slovak counterpart. As the two leaders moved towards the Palace, another guard appeared to feel unwell and was taken inside by other staff members. He had reportedly collapsed off camera before being taken inside the palace.

AFP, citing an unnamed French presidential source, reported that both guards had suffered from “fainting attacks.” “Both of them were swiftly taken care of and everything is fine,” added the source.

The Republican Guard, a unit of the French gendarmerie, is responsible for ceremonial guards of honour in France. Its personnel often have to stand for long hours in heavy uniforms while holding their swords upright.

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Why did two guards collapse outside the Elysee Palace in Paris?

Two members of France’s elite Republican Guard collapsed one after the other while participating in a ceremonial guard of honor welcoming Slovak President Peter Pellegrini.

How did French President Emmanuel Macron respond when the guards collapsed?

Upon noticing a guard collapse against a pillar at the end of the queue, President Emmanuel Macron immediately rushed over with staff members to check on him before proceeding to greet his Slovak counterpart.

Who was visiting French President Emmanuel Macron when the incident occurred?

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini was visiting French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris when the Republican Guards collapsed.

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Manisha RoySenior Sub-Editor

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers politics and a wide range of hard news, with a keen interest in national and international d…Read More

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