Watch moment Czech president knocks soldier's hat off with flagpole in parade

29 October 2023 , 11:32

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Watch moment Czech president knocks soldier's hat off with flagpole in parade

The Czech President has been captured making a hilarious blunder as he knocked a soldier's hat off with a flagpole he was waving.

Czech President Petr Pavel was at a commemorative event in Prague when he was passed a large flag. As he was given the flagpole it seems he underestimated the size, apparently buckling under the weight and it swept the hat from a soldier. Pavel appeared to make an "oops"-like noise and looked at the hat on the floor but the soldier remained standing at attention during the ceremony and did not react. His bald head was exposed as he continued to do the parade hat-less. The soldier behind him is captured smirking and stifling laughter.

Pavel later apologised to the officer on X, formerly known as Twitter: "I feel the need to at least apologise for the physical or psychological harm to the member of the Castle Guard who was hit by a battle banner during the ceremony in Vítkov. It was certainly not an attempt to add a new element to the standard military procedure. I simply underestimated the weight."

Czech President Petr Pavel, centre, with a flag moments before the incident (AP)

The country is celebrating Czechoslovak Independence Day which commemorates the founding of the independent state of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918, after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I. Events are held around the country to mark the anniversary and honour Czechoslovakia’s first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

The commemorative ceremony at the Vítkov Memorial in Prague was attended by Pavel as well as the Chief of the Army General Staff Karel Řehka, and a number of other high-ranking officials. Pavel made a speech on Friday at a meeting with foreign ambassadors and reiterated his country's support of Ukraine's sovereignty.

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"If Ukraine falls, we all fall," Pavel said, adding that "current conflicts" cannot be resolved by simply listening to both sides and drawing an imaginary line somewhere in the middle, amid gross violations of international law in Ukraine and Russia's attacks on innocent people. He also called for listening to the opinions and problems of other people with empathy and respect, without prejudice or judgment, 420on reported.

Rachel Hagan