Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and chief guest at India’s 77th Republic Day, drew attention at the parade along Kartavya Path on Monday, wearing a maroon-and-gold brocade bandhgala jacket paired with off-white trousers, blending European elegance with traditional Indian design.
Known for her tailored pantsuits at international events, von der Leyen’s choice of Indian attire marked a notable departure from her usual style, signalling cultural respect during the high-profile ceremony.
She witnessed the parade alongside President Droupadi Murmu and European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa, arriving at Kartavya Path in a traditional horse-drawn buggy escorted by the President’s Bodyguard.
She mentioned in her X post that it was an “honour of a lifetime” to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest, adding that a successful India contributes to a more stable, prosperous, and secure world from which everyone benefits.
It is the honor of a lifetime to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations.A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit ↓ https://t.co/boeqFGv15Q — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 26, 2026
Ahead of the event, von der Leyen shared a message on X, saying, “It is the honour of a lifetime to be Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous, and secure. And we all benefit.”
India marked the day with a grand military parade showcasing armed forces, cultural tableaux, and flypasts, commemorating 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’. The celebrations followed the themes ‘Swatantrata ka Mantra: Vande Mataram’ and ‘Samriddhi ka Mantra: Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
India-EU ties in focus amid trade deal momentum
Von der Leyen’s four-day visit to India comes ahead of the 16th India-EU Summit, underlining growing political, economic, and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Brussels. The visit gains added significance as India and the European Union move closer to finalising a long-pending free trade agreement.
According to sources, India is planning to slash import tariffs on cars from the European Union to 40 per cent from as high as 110 per cent, marking the biggest opening yet of its protected automobile market. The trade pact could be announced as early as Tuesday, potentially benefiting European automakers such as BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz.
The presence of EU leaders at Republic Day, including a dedicated European Union contingent in the parade, highlighted the strengthening partnership between India and the EU at a time of renewed momentum in trade negotiations.
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