Two guards collapse beside Macron during official welcoming ceremony

FILE: French President Emmanuel Macron waits for Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso - Copyright Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved Copyright Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved By Kamuran Samar with AFP, AP Published on 12 November 2026 - 12:37 GMT+1 Two French soldiers collapsed while standing guard at the Élysée Palace as President Emmanuel Macron prepared to welcome his Slovak counterpart, Peter Pellegrini, in Paris. Two French soldiers collapsed while standing guard outside the Élysée Palace in Paris on Wednesday, just as President Emmanuel Macron was preparing to welcome Slovak President Peter Pellegrini. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Footage shows one of the guards suddenly falling to the ground as the official welcoming ceremony was about to begin. Macron, who was standing nearby, appeared to notice the incident as other members of the delegation reacted. The soldiers were part of the honour guard assembled for Pellegrini's official visit to France. The ceremony was briefly disrupted as people moved to assist the fallen guards. The incident took place during the Slovak president's visit to Paris on 11 November. Go to accessibility shortcuts