France has celebrated Bastille Day 2016 with its traditional military parade in Paris. Fighter jets trailing smoke in the colours of the national flag flew over the Arc d'Triomphe, as President Francois Hollande presided. The guests of honour this year were Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who applauded as Australian troops and Maori warriors joined French soldiers marching down the Champs-Elysées.
Alphajet aircrafts from the French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France release smoke in the colours of the French national flag as they fly over the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFPAn elevated view of the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees in ParisStephane de Sakutin/AFPFrench President Francois Hollande, the Military Governor of Paris Bruno Le Ray and the Chief of the Defence Staff French army General Pierre de Villiers arrive in a command car for the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFPA member of the Spanish Guardia Civil marches down the Champs-Elysees with students of the National Gendarmerie military schoolDominique Faget/AFPFrench Republican Guards march down the Champs-Elysees in ParisBenoit Tessier/ReutersMembers of the Republican Guard on horseback take part in the annual Bastille Day military paradeDominique Faget/AFPMaori warriors take part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Place de la ConcordeDominique Faget/AFPMaori warriors from New Zealand take part in the Bastille Day military parade on the Champs ElyseesBenoit Tessier/ReutersTroops from Australia march in front of the presidential tribune on the Champs-ElyseesCharles Platiau/ReutersAustralian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, French President Francois Hollande, French Prime minister Manuel Valls and New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key applaud from the presidential box on the Place de la ConcordePatrick Kovarik/AFPFrench Mirage 2000C fighters and an Alphajet fly over Paris on their way to participate in the Bastille Day military paradePhilippe Wojazer/ReutersAn aerial view taken from a helicopter shows the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees during the annual Bastille Day military paradeThomas Samson/AFPA view taken from a helicopter shows Alphajet aircrafts from the French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France releasing smoke in the colours of the French national flag as they fly above the rooftops of Paris during the annual Bastille Day military paradeThomas Samson/AFPA trail of smoke in the colours of the French national flag rises above the La Defense business districtStephane de Sakutin/AFPAlphajet aircrafts from the French elite acrobatic flying team Patrouille de France release smoke in the colours of the French national flagStephane de Sakutin/AFPA view taken from a helicopter shows four Mirage 2000-5 jets flying over the rooftops of Paris during the annual Bastille Day military paradeThomas Samson/AFPFrench police officers watch over the parade from the top of the Arc de TriompheStephane de Sakutin/AFPA French sniper takes up his position at the top of the Arc de Triomphe during the annual Bastille Day military paradeStephane de Sakutin/AFPMilitary helicopters fly over the Champs-Elysees during the annual Bastille Day military paradeDominique Faget/AFPA US Air Force KC130J refueling tanker and two French Caracal helicopters fly over the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFPThree Rafale M jet fighters and an E2C aircraft fly over ParisDominique Faget/AFPMirage 2000N jets of the La Fayette squadron fly over the Champs-ElyseesStephane de Sakutin/AFPThe French Foreign Legion takes part in the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFPThe 132nd Canine Unit Battalion of the French Army march down the Champs-Elysees with their dogsPatrick Kovarik/AFPFrench Leclerc tanks of the 501st regiment parade down the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFPFrench President Francois Hollande shakes hands with onlookers on the Champs-ElyseesThibault Camus/AFPFrench Gendarmes drink champagne before taking part in the annual Bastille Day military paradeStephane de Sakutin/AFPStudents from the French military school wait near the Arc de Triomphe before taking part in the annual Bastille Day military paradeStephane de Sakutin/AFPDifferent types of French military caps are stacked on shelves in a cloakroom at the Defence ministry in ParisStephane de Sakutin/Getty ImagesStudents form the national flag as they sing the French national anthem on the Place de la Concorde after marching down the Champs-ElyseesDominique Faget/AFP
The annual holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille prison, which marked the start of the 1789 French Revolution.
