While in France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral, the Prince of Wales had the opportunity to meet Donald Trump, who will soon become the President of the United States.
According to Daily Mail, during the celebration of the restoration of the world-famous monument, which had been destroyed by a fire five years earlier, Prince William joined other global leaders in Paris by attending the event.
They met again after the ceremony, during which the president-elect referred to the prince as a "good man" who was doing a "fantastic job." The prince and the president-elect also shook hands after the ceremony.
In the course of the ceremony, French President Emmanuel Macron made a speech in which he referred to the restoration and stated, "We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility, and will."
A number of other dignitaries and officials were present at the occasion, including the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the former First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, who was representing President Joe Biden.
It was anticipated that Prince William would address the significance of the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom.
At the ceremony, Trump greeted the prince by giving him a pat on the shoulder. After that, the two of them shook hands and talked for a few seconds.
Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, and hundreds of other leaders of state were present at the ceremony on Saturday.
The house of the British ambassador in Paris was the location of the meeting between Prince William and Trump.
While Trump was entering the building, the prince was standing in the lobby. Before Trump made a motion toward the Prince of Wales and added, "Good man, this one," the two individuals shook hands and received another round of greetings from one another.
According to The Sun, during the cold and wet weather in Paris, the Prince even inquired of the President-elect whether or not he had "warmed up" after the weather.
Trump replied, "I haven't warmed up yet but I had a good time, it was a beautiful ceremony."
According to Kensington Palace, the meeting between the two parties was "warm and friendly."
During the forty minutes that they spent together, Prince William and Trump talked about a variety of global topics, but they mostly focused on the significance of the special connection that exists between the United Kingdom and the United States.
A number of warm and pleasant recollections of the late Queen were also conveyed by the president-elect, for which the prince was stated to be "extremely grateful."
The Prince's engagement with Trump has elicited responses on social media, with numerous users expressing their views. Some conveyed enthusiasm, whilst others scrutinized the nature of the royal assembly.
"Prince William and Trump sharing a handshake at Notre-Dame? That's a sight I never expected to see! #RoyalNews #Trump2025" one netizen wrote.
"Love that Prince William is showing diplomacy, but I don't know how I feel about Trump being involved in such a historic event. #WeirdMoment" another person said.
"The meeting was respectful, but let's not forget that Trump is a divisive figure. #PrinceWilliam #NotreDameReopening" a third fan wrote.
"Seeing William and Trump talking about the late Queen? That's the kind of diplomacy I admire. #GoodMan #RoyalEncounters" a fourth chimed in.
"No doubt this will be all over tabloids, but it's all politics, not personal. #RoyalDiplomacy" another wrote.
"I'm just glad the Prince is keeping it classy, no matter who he meets. #RespectfulMeeting" a fan said.
Business Times has reached out to Prince William for comments.
