Prince William and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump reunited in Paris on Saturday evening during the grand reopening of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral. The Gothic masterpiece, ravaged by a catastrophic fire in 2019, reopened after a meticulous restoration costing hundreds of millions of euros, funded by nearly $1 billion in global donations.
The event attracted a roster of international dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, billionaire Elon Musk, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Former French presidents Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy also attended.
William and Trump exchanged pleasantries and shook hands during the ceremony. Trump patted the Prince of Wales on the shoulder, marking a symbolic moment of unity amid the historic gathering. The two are set to hold further discussions later in the evening, focusing on the longstanding "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom.
According to a Kensington Palace spokesperson, William attended the event at the request of the UK government. "The Prince of Wales will travel to Paris tomorrow to attend the ceremony marking the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. His Royal Highness is travelling at the request of His Majesty's Government on behalf of the United Kingdom," the palace confirmed on Friday.
The Prince of Wales greeting President-Elect Trump #NotreDame #PrinceWilliam pic.twitter.com/E4qf4O15ah — mrc (@brigantia__) December 7, 2024
Notre-Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has undergone an extensive restoration process since the devastating fire that destroyed its spire and nearly caused the building's collapse. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the event, expressed gratitude to those who contributed to its revival. "Tonight, the bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken," he said, calling the music a "message of hope to Parisians, France, and the world."
The ceremony included a commemorative service led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris, with over 1,500 guests in attendance. The archbishop struck the cathedral's doors three times with his crozier before leading the congregation through prayers and hymns, while the choir of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris performed.
Macron took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his sentiments. "Here we are. The whole world is watching us. Let's reopen Notre-Dame," he posted. The president also facilitated a meeting earlier in the day between Trump and Zelenskyy at the élysée Palace, a diplomatic success amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
William's Paris visit is his first official trip to the French capital since 2017. Previously, he met Trump during the latter's state visit to the UK in 2019 and encountered President Joe Biden in Boston in 2022 during the Earthshot Prize ceremony.
This year, William also joined world leaders in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. His attendance at the Notre-Dame ceremony highlights the UK's commitment to fostering international solidarity in the face of shared challenges.
