Prince William meets Trump at Notre-Dame reopening in Paris

The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump whereas visiting France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral.

Prince William joined different world leaders in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous landmark, which was devastated by a hearth 5 years in the past.

After shaking palms on the ceremony, the pair additionally met afterwards, with the president-elect describing the prince as a “good man” doing a “fantastic job”.

During the occasion, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech by which he stated of the restoration: “we must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility and will”.

Other leaders and dignitaries on the occasion included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing US First Lady Dr Jill Biden, who was representing President Joe Biden.

Prince William was anticipated to debate the significance of the US-UK “special relationship” with each Trump and the primary woman throughout their respective conferences.

Greeting the prince on the ceremony, Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder earlier than the 2 shook palms and spoke for a number of seconds.

He final met Trump in 2019 when the then-president made a state go to to the UK.

Prince William, who attended at the request of the UK government, joined French President Emmanuel Macron and dozens of different heads of state on the ceremony on Saturday.

William and Trump met on the residence of the British ambassador in Paris.

The prince was standing within the lobby when Trump arrived. The pair shook palms and greeted each other once more, earlier than Trump gestured to the Prince of Wales and stated: “Good man, this one”.

Prince William requested the president-elect if he had warmed up, and Trump replied that he had and that “it was a beautiful ceremony”.

The prince had additionally been as a consequence of meet Trump and Dr Biden earlier within the day however Kensington Palace stated he had been delayed by climate on his journey from the UK to France.

At the ceremony, The Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led greater than 1,500 visitors by way of the reopening service.

A choir sang out as Macron took his seat subsequent to Trump. A message from the Pope was learn aloud earlier than the French president delivered his tackle.

Parts of the occasion needed to be reconfigured because of the stormy climate – with a live performance that was as a consequence of happen on the esplanade really being staged on Friday.

The prince’s final official journey to Paris was in 2017, when he visited with the Princess of Wales for a two-day journey within the aftermath of the Brexit consequence.

He joined different world leaders in Normandy earlier this yr for the eightieth anniversary commemorations of the Second World War D-Day landings.

The medieval cathedral has been closed since a serious hearth tore by way of it in 2019, destroying its stained-glass home windows and picket interiors earlier than toppling its spire.

Some 600 firefighters battled the blaze for 15 hours. The predominant construction of the 850-year-old constructing was saved, together with its two bell towers.

Macron set a five-year objective for the reconstruction of the Catholic church shortly after the hearth.

An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry-workers, artwork consultants, sculptors and engineers labored on the venture, which reportedly price €700m (£582m).

Tickets for the primary week of Masses within the cathedral bought out in 25 minutes, the cathedral’s rector stated.

Analysis by Sean Coughlan, royal correspondent

Prince William has been scrambled, like in his outdated air ambulance days, to hurry to this assembly in Paris with President-elect Donald Trump.

Although what’s in want of rescue on this event is the well-being of the particular relationship between the US and the UK.

It’s an necessary connection for either side – and for wider navy hyperlinks reminiscent of Nato – however there’s not numerous apparent empathy between Starmer’s Labour authorities and the incoming Republicans.

So the royals, who’re funded by taxpayers, are being deployed to clean the trail, with Prince William taking over the statesman position, assembly Trump earlier than attending the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.

Trump is a royal fan, so that may make for a extra constructive connection. Prince William final met Trump in 2019, through the then-president’s go to to the UK, the place Trump spoke very enthusiastically about his assembly with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

But there is a large distinction of their kinds. Prince William’s flagship venture is his Earthshot environmental awards, whereas Trump has dismissed efforts to spice up inexperienced vitality as a “scam”.

This week Prince William went to serve dinner on the Passage homelessness charity and on Friday evening he was serving to with a “kindness tree” outdoors Westminster Abbey.

A kindness tree and campaigning on housing and climate-change aren’t precisely the ‘Make America Great Again’ fashion.

But the purpose of this hurriedly-arranged assembly will probably be for a royal allure offensive to assist construct bridges at an unsure time for western alliances.