French presidential guard collapses during state ceremony

On November 12, 2026, a member of the French presidential guard collapsed while standing at attention at the Élysée Palace. The incident occurred during the official welcoming ceremony for Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who was arriving for a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

As the guard fell to the ground, President Macron interrupted the proceedings to approach the soldier, accompanied by staff, to check on his condition. Security personnel subsequently assisted the guard, who was moved out of the ceremonial area. The diplomatic event resumed shortly thereafter, allowing the leaders to continue with their planned protocol. No official update regarding the cause of the collapse or the current health status of the guard has been released by the Élysée Palace.