French Republican Guard

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Two republican guards in ceremony uniform in front of a side entrance of the Élysée Palace

The French Republican Guard (French: Garde républicaine) is the ceremonial unit of the Gendarmerie Nationale of France. It consists of two infantry regiments (one includes a motorcycle squadron) and a horse cavalry regiment. It also has four musical formations, as well as groups demonstrating prowess in horseback or motorcycle maneuvers.

Its missions include:

Guarding important public buildings in Paris such as the Élysée Palace, the residence of the prime minister Hôtel Matignon, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Hall of Justice, and keeping public order in Paris.
Honor and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests;
Support of other law enforcement forces (with intervention groups, or horseback patrols);
Staffing horseback patrol stations, particularly for the forests of the Île-de-France region;
Transporting and escorting urgent organ transplants.

The close physical protection of the President is entrusted to the GSPR (Groupe de Sécurité de la Présidence de la République), and the SPHP (Service de Protection des Hautes Personalités), not part of the Guard.

The Republican Guard also fulfills an important diplomatic role, representing France at sporting and cultural events abroad and receiving important dignitaries at home. Controversially, they will frequently accept colors and other honors from regiments of allied countries, but they will usually award their own honors, such as the famed spurs of the Republican Guard, only to royalty or to individuals of historic standing.

The Republican Guard mans the honour guards welcoming foreign heads of state or government; here, president Jacques Chirac welcomes then king of Cambodia]] Norodom Sihanouk to the Élysée Palace.