Czech President Petr Pavel knocked a soldier's hat off by accidentally striking him with a flagpole during a commemorative event in Prague the other day.

The bald army officer remained standing at attention during the ceremony and did not react.

President Pavel later apologised to the officer on X, formerly known as Twitter: "It was certainly not an attempt to add a new element to the standard military procedure. I simply underestimated the weight."

Czech president knocks soldiers hat off with flagpole .. I suspect it
was deliberate .. pic.twitter.com/ETdG4C3I5o

— Martha (@MGonigle) October 29, 2023