On the evening of November 12, 2026, two members of the Republican Guard collapsed one after another at the Élysée Palace in Paris, during a formal reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The French president was receiving the President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, on the occasion of the Paris Peace Forum. The incidents were captured on video by Slovak television and further documented by Reuters, showing chaotic scenes as both soldiers fell unconscious near the head of state. [2] [1]
The sequence of events began as President Macron stood on the porch of the Élysée Palace, awaiting the arrival of his Slovak counterpart. According to footage from Slovak television, the first guard suddenly fell backward, collapsing onto the ground. Upon witnessing the fall, President Macron immediately walked towards the fallen soldier to assess the situation before the man was evacuated from the site. Seconds later, as President Pellegrini was ascending the steps of the palace to formally greet Macron, a second guard suffered a similar collapse. Although this second incident occurred partially off-camera, video recordings capture the sound of a sword hitting the floor, the reaction of President Macron turning his head, and audible expressions of confusion from bystanders, including questions such as 'What is this mess?' and 'Oh my goodness, what is wrong with them?' [2] [1]
The context of the evening was marked by the significance of the day in France. While the formal commemorations of the 108th anniversary of the Armistice of November 11 had taken place earlier in the day, with President Macron participating in ceremonies along the Champs-Élysées and laying a wreath at the Arc de Triomphe, the diplomatic reception continued into the night. The collapse of the guards occurred just as President Pellegrini’s vehicle entered the courtyard of the Élysée Palace. The husband of Brigitte Macron was also present, standing among the guards. The unexpected medical emergencies disrupted the ceremonial proceedings, causing a moment of confusion before the meeting between the two heads of state could proceed. [1]
Following the collapses, both guards were evacuated within the Élysée Palace premises. Video evidence shows the guards being attended to while President Macron and President Pellegrini observed the scene. Despite the alarm caused by the consecutive falls, the diplomatic encounter between Macron and Pellegrini eventually took place. However, as of the initial reporting on November 12, 2026, no official statement had been released regarding the medical condition of the two military personnel or the specific causes of their fainting spells. The incidents have drawn attention due to their unprecedented nature during a high-profile diplomatic visit. [2] [1]
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