What Exactly is France’s Republican Guard?

You may have seen them with their swords and epaulets, forming an honor guard for a foreign dignitary. Or maybe you’ve seen them riding on horseback during a Parisian parade. And who can forget the band in traditional uniform swaying stiffly behind French megastar Aya Nakamura as she sang and danced at the Olympic opening ceremony? 

These are all members of the Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine), a prestigious division within the Gendarmarie Nationale. They are one of the most visible parts of the French police force, and a favorite of tourists. 

A Long History 

The Guard’s history reaches back to the Gardes Françaises of the Middle Ages that protected the kings and queens of France. Today the Guard’s responsibilities are primarily in Paris, where it is part of the French armed forces under the command of the Interior Minister. With 3,000 members (about 10% women), the Guard includes both infantry regiments and, with over 500 horses, the last mounted regiment in France. 

Ceremonial Responsibilities 

Most people see the Guards when they are carrying out their ceremonial responsibilities. They are especially visible when foreign dignitaries visit France, not only with their honor guard at the Élysée Palace but also by providing motorized escorts to these visitors via their motorcycle division.

The Guard provides over 500 honor guards a year at public ceremonies — for example, for presidential visits to museums and the opera, and when members of the French Academy (the “Immortals”) descend under the Academy’s cupola. The Guard’s motorized division escorts the bodies of fallen soldiers to the Invalides, and their mounted cavalry is a highlight of the annual Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysées. 

And then there are the bands. Over 100 members strong, they play at official ceremonies, state dinners, and military parades. They include a symphony orchestra, a string orchestra, a concert band, and a fanfare band (trumpets and drums). These reflect the Guard’s military roots, where fanfares were used to communicate orders during battle, while a band’s music punctuated the marching of an army during parades. The Guard also includes a 46-member choir. 

Security Responsibilities 

While the Guard is best-known for its ceremonial duties, security makes up a majority of its responsibilities. It provides security at five major sites of the French government: the Élysée Palace (residence of the president), Hôtel Matignon (residence of the prime minister), Palais Bourbon (National Assembly), Luxembourg Palace (Senate), and Palais de Justice.  

The Guard works with the Paris police to provide public order in the city, and has special responsibility for horseback patrols in the wooded areas around Paris, like the Bois de Boulogne and the forests of Fontainebleau, Chambord, and Chantilly. It also helps with security for sporting event in Paris, as its motorcycle division did during the recent Tour de France. 

This division escorts the French president when he is driven around Paris, and the Guards also support the presidential security service — via their counter-sniper teams, for example. Guard members also accompany diplomatic pouches as they travel between the foreign ministry and the airport. 

Specialized Missions 

For historical reasons, the Guard has limited security responsibilities in far-flung places, like the oyster farms in Normandy and in the Champagne region during the grape harvest. And because they are part of the armed forces, members observe the entrance examinations to L’École Polytechnique, France’s top engineering school, which is also part of the military. 

Just for Fun 

Some of what the Guard does is just for entertainment.

Take the historical reenactments. The Guard owns thousands of outfits for these, in styles dating back to the reign of Saint Louis in the 13th century. They even have a group called the Maison du Roy, representing the king’s household cavalry. Dressed in the period of King Louis XIV and mounted on horseback, they are accompanied by a platoon playing hunting horns. 

As for precision marching, the Quadrille des Baïonettes puts on quite a show. And for pure entertainment, what’s better than the Guard’s acrobatic motorcycle team? If you long to see 34 riders build a pyramid while riding seven motorcycles, this is the group for you!