International
Prince William Meets Trump After Notre-Dame Reopening
The Prince of Wales met U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during a visit to France for the ceremonial reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Prince William joined global leaders in Paris to celebrate the restoration of the iconic landmark, which was ravaged by a fire five years ago. French President Emmanuel Macron, delivering a speech at the event, reflected on the reconstruction, stating, “We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility, and will.”
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The reopening service, attended by over 1,500 guests, was led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. A choir performed as Macron took his seat beside Trump. The ceremony also included a message from Pope Francis. However, parts of the event had to be adjusted due to inclement weather, with a planned concert rescheduled to the previous day.
William and Trump exchanged greetings at the ceremony, with Trump giving the prince a pat on the shoulder before the two spoke briefly. Later, they met at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris, where their 40-minute discussion emphasized the importance of the U.K.-U.S. special relationship. Trump described the prince as a “good man” doing a “fantastic job” and shared fond memories of the late Queen Elizabeth II, for which William expressed gratitude. Kensington Palace characterized their interaction as “warm and friendly.”
Trump last met William in 2019 during a state visit to the U.K. At this event, William also met outgoing First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, representing President Joe Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
William attended the reopening at the request of the U.K. government. Though his journey was delayed by weather, he used the opportunity to discuss key global issues and the enduring U.K.-U.S. alliance during his conversations with Trump and Dr. Biden.
The reopening of Notre-Dame marks a significant milestone in its five-year restoration. The medieval cathedral, partially destroyed by the 2019 fire, saw 600 firefighters working 15 hours to save its main structure, including its iconic twin bell towers.
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French President Macron pledged to rebuild the historic Catholic church within five years, a goal achieved thanks to the dedication of 2,000 specialists, including masons, carpenters, and art restorers. The €700 million (£582 million) reconstruction has restored the cathedral to its former glory, with tickets for its first week of services selling out in just 25 minutes.
This marks Prince William’s first official visit to Paris since 2017 and follows his participation in Normandy earlier this year for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
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