Under an overcast sky, the pomp celebrating the 1789 beginnings of the French revolution began with bagpipes, dressage and several renditions of the Marseillaise national anthem. Booming jets then performed overflights in formation before a stream of military units and tanks began rolling down the Champs.
Fierce gusts of wind knocked one of the parachutists off his mark at the parade's finale, sending him a few meters (yards) away from his target. Hollande swung by after the parade to check in on the wayward jumper as he recovered by a fountain, and he told the French leader he had sprained his knee but was otherwise fine.
The sun struggled to shine through the clouds, but the weather was a vast improvement on Hollande's last trip down the avenue: Pouring rain soaked his suit and clouded his glasses as he waved from his open-top car on the day of his inauguration.
A family feud involving Hollande's current partner, his former partner, his son and an apparently vindictive tweet has also clouded the day. First lady Valerie Trierweiler watched the parade from the first row – but she and other companions of dignitaries sat separate from their partners, as in years past.
Hollande tried to defuse the affair in an interview later Saturday, saying that he wanted to keep his public and private lives separate and that he had asked those close to him to do the same.
Bastille Day marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison by angry Paris crowds that helped spark the French Revolution.
- A French Boeing C135, refueling tanker (top) and fighter jets fly over the Louvre museum during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- People arrive on the Esplanade des Droits de l’homme (Human Rights) at the Trocadero, before the start of a fireworks show on the Eiffel Tower, as part of the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in Paris. (Guillaume Baptiste/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The Eiffel Tower is illuminated during the traditional Bastille Day fireworks display in Paris July 14, 2012. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above traditional boats gather in the Brest bay as part of the shipping festive event “Tonnerres de Brest”, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in Brest, western France. (Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above traditional boats gather in the Brest bay as part of the shipping festive event “Tonnerres de Brest”, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in Brest, western France. (Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above traditional boats gather in the Brest bay as part of the shipping festive event “Tonnerres de Brest”, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in Brest, western France. (Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- Fireworks illuminate the night sky above the historic fortified city of Carcassonne, southwestern France, during the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012. (Eric Cabanis/AFP/Getty Images ) PHOTO LINK
- A general view taken at night shows Paris and the Eiffel Tower during the firework as part of the annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in Paris. (Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- France’s President Francois Hollande (L) shakes hands with a French soldier during a reception to honour the French troops at the Hotel de Brienne Defence Ministry in Paris July 13, 2012 on the eve of the traditional Bastille Day military parade. (Pierre Verdy/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- A formation of military helicopters fly over the Arc de Triomphe during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- France’s President Francois Hollande (centre, L) stands at attention in the command car as he reviews the troops while descending the Champs Elysees in Paris at the start of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- The French Republican Guard ride down the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French navy servicemen take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Members of the French National gendarmerie officers school take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French firefighters take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Members of the France’s Republican Guard descend the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mal Langsdon/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Military band of French Alpine Chasseurs march on the Champs Elysees avenue during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French military aircraft fly over Paris during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Guillaume Baptiste/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- High ranking officers of the French army salute during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the special military school of Saint-Cyr take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- The French mounted Republican Guard take part in the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Alphajet planes from the Patrouille de France (France’s Patrol) fly over the Champs Elysees during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Philippe Wojazer/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- French navy servicemen take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Picture taken from a Boeing C135, refueling tanker, shows of two French Rafale (C) fighters and two Mirage fighters, as they fly over Paris during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. is seen in the background. (Boris Horvat/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Nine alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France release trails of blue, white and red smoke, colors of French national flag, as they fly over Louvre museum and the Louvre Pyramid during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French Infantry fighting vehicles (VBCI) from the 92nd Infantry Regiment parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue during the annual Bastille Day military parade in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers from French Foreign Legion take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Mounted French Republican guards take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Motorcyclist squadron of French National gendarmerie take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Alphajet planes from the Patrouille de France (France’s Patrol) fly over the Champs Elysees as part of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Jacques Brinon/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the special military school of Saint-Cyr take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French firefighters take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Soldiers from French Foreign Legion take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Musicians of the Bagad of Lann-Bihoue, a French Navy Pipe Band, take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, on July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Langlois/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French soldiers from the 1st Spahis Regiment take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Students of the military school EMIA (In French : Ecole Militaire Interarmes) take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (In French : FINUL) take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. (Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- French paratroopers from the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in Paris July 14, 2012. The Arc de Triomphe is seen in the background. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- A parachutist lands in front of the reviewing stand on the Place de la Concorde during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Benoit Tessier/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- An injured parachutist is assisted by medical staff in front of the reviewing stand at the Place de la Concorde during the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- People look at nine alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France releasing trails of red, white and blue smoke, colors of French national flag, as they attend the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris July 14, 2012. (Mehdi Fedouach/AFP/Getty Images) PHOTO LINK
- Visitors walk in the gardens of the Elysee Palace in Paris July 14, 2012. The Elysee Palace gardens are open to the public for the Bastille Day celebrations. (Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
- France’s President Francois Hollande walks past a French national flag as he leaves the Place de la Concorde after the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris July 14, 2012. (Charles Platiau/Reuters) PHOTO LINK
People wait on the esplanade du Champs de Mars for the start of fireworks on the Eiffel Tower, where a giant disco ball has been set, as part of the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2012 in |
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