The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump while visiting France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral.
which was devastated by a fire five years ago.
After shaking hands at the ceremony, the pair also met afterwards, with the president-elect describing the prince as a “good man” doing a “fantastic job.”.
During the event, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech in which he said of the restoration: “We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility, and will.”.
Other leaders and dignitaries at the event included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who was representing President Joe Biden.
during their individual meetings with Trump and the first lady.
Greeting the prince at the ceremony, Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder before the two shook hands and spoke for a few seconds.
He last met Trump in 2019 when the then-president made a state visit to the UK.
William and Trump met at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris.
The prince was standing in the foyer when Trump arrived. The pair shook hands and greeted one another again before Trump gestured to the Prince of Wales and said, “Good man, this one.”.
Prince William asked the president-elect if he had warmed up, and Trump replied that he had and that “it was a beautiful ceremony.”.
Kensington Palace has described the meeting as “warm and friendly.”
During their 40 minutes together, William and Trump discussed a range of global issues but focused on the importance of the UK/US special relationship.
The president-elect also shared some warm and fond memories of the late Queen, for which the prince was said to be “extremely grateful.”
William had also been due to meet Trump and Dr. Biden earlier in the day, but Kensington Palace said he had been delayed by weather on his journey from the UK to France.
At the ceremony, Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led more than 1,500 guests through the reopening service.
A choir sang out as Macron took his seat next to Trump. A message from the Pope was read aloud before the French president delivered his address.
Parts of the event had to be reconfigured due to the stormy weather, with a concert that was due to take place on the esplanade actually being staged on Friday.
The prince’s last official trip to Paris was in 2017, when he visited with the Princess of Wales for a two-day trip in the aftermath of the Brexit result.
He joined other world leaders in Normandy earlier this year for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War D-Day landings.
The medieval cathedral has been closed since a major fire tore through it in 2019, destroying its wooden interiors before toppling its spire.
Some 600 firefighters battled the blaze for 15 hours. The main structure of the 850-year-old building was saved, including its two bell towers.
Macron set a five-year goal for the reconstruction of the Catholic church shortly after the fire.
An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry workers, art experts, sculptors, and engineers worked on the project, which reportedly cost €700m (£582m).
Tickets for the first week of Masses in the cathedral sold out in 25 minutes, the cathedral’s rector said.
Prince William has been scrambled, like in his old air ambulance days, to rush to this meeting in Paris with President-elect Donald Trump.
Although what’s in need of rescue on this occasion is the well-being of the special relationship between the US and the UK.
It’s an important connection for both sides—and for wider military links such as NATO—but there’s not a lot of obvious empathy between Starmer’s Labour government and the incoming Republicans.
So the royals, who are funded by taxpayers, are being deployed to smooth the path, with Prince William taking on the statesman role, meeting Trump before attending the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.
Trump is a royal fan, so that might make for a more positive connection. Prince William last met Trump in 2019, during the then-president’s visit to the UK, where Trump spoke very enthusiastically about his meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But there’s a massive contrast in their styles. Prince William’s flagship project is his Earthshot environmental awards, while Trump has dismissed efforts to boost green energy as a “scam.”.
This week Prince William went to serve dinner at the Passage Homelessness charity, and on Friday night he was helping with a “kindness tree” outside Westminster Abbey.
A kindness tree and campaigning on housing and climate change aren’t exactly the ‘Make America Great Again’ style.
But the aim of this hurriedly arranged meeting will be for a royal charm offensive to help build bridges at an uncertain time for western alliances.
Lawmakers in South Korea have narrowly failed to impeach the nation's president over his short-lived attempt to declare martial law.…
insurance CEO US health system People's Action protested against UnitedHealth Group this summer The "brazen and targeted" killing of health…
meat-grinder Russian forces have been steadily advancing in eastern Ukraine in recent months As 2024 draws to a close, and…
‘You are in danger!’ How San Francisco scrambled to prepare for a tsunami that never came Independent Premium A San…
Diplomatic correspondent Oleksandr now curates at a museum where the nuclear weapons were stored Under heavy grey skies and a…
Wallace stepped aside from presenting MasterChef last week MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace is facing fresh allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour…
View Comments