Prince William and Trump meet after Notre-Dame reopening

Prince William and Donald Trump met following the reopening of Notre Dame.

The Prince of Wales had a meeting with Donald Trump, who has been elected as the President of the United States, during his trip to France for the official reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame cathedral.

Prince William attended a gathering of global leaders in Paris to celebrate the renovation of the iconic landmark that was severely damaged by a fire five years ago.

Following their handshake during the ceremony, the two met again later. The president-elect praised the prince, calling him a "good man" who is doing an "excellent job."

At the event, French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech where he emphasized the importance of the restoration, stating, "We need to appreciate this lesson of vulnerability, modesty, and determination."

Other notable attendees at the event were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who was there in place of President Joe Biden.

Prince William was anticipated to talk about the significance of the special bond between the US and the UK in his meetings with President Trump and the First Lady.

At the ceremony, Trump greeted the prince with a friendly pat on the shoulder. The two then shook hands and exchanged a few words.

His most recent encounter with Trump was in 2019 during the former president's official visit to the UK.

Prince William, invited by the UK government, participated in the ceremony on Saturday alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and many other world leaders.

William and Trump gathered at the home of the British ambassador in Paris.

The prince was waiting in the entrance when Trump showed up. They shook hands and exchanged greetings once more, after which Trump pointed to the Prince of Wales and remarked, "He's a good guy."

Prince William inquired if the president-elect was feeling more comfortable, to which Trump responded that he was, describing the event as "a lovely ceremony."

Kensington Palace characterized the gathering as "cordial and amicable."

In their 40-minute meeting, William and Trump talked about various global topics, but they put a particular emphasis on the significance of the special relationship between the UK and the US.

The president-elect also recalled some cherished memories of the late Queen, which the prince reportedly appreciated very much.

William was scheduled to meet with Trump and Dr. Biden earlier that day, but Kensington Palace announced that bad weather had caused delays in his trip from the UK to France.

Prince William's trip to the ceremony was held up due to bad weather conditions.

During the ceremony, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris guided over 1,500 attendees through the reopening service.

A choir performed as Macron settled in beside Trump. Before the French president gave his speech, a message from the Pope was read aloud.

Some aspects of the event needed to be adjusted because of the bad weather. For instance, a concert that was originally scheduled to happen on the esplanade was moved to Friday instead.

The prince's most recent official visit to Paris took place in 2017, when he traveled there alongside the Princess of Wales for a two-day journey following the Brexit vote.

Earlier this year, he gathered with fellow global leaders in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War II.

The medieval cathedral has remained shut since a devastating fire swept through it in 2019, damaging its wooden interiors and causing its spire to collapse.

Around 600 firefighters worked for 15 hours to fight the fire. They managed to preserve the main structure of the 850-year-old building, including its two bell towers.

Soon after the fire, Macron established a five-year plan for rebuilding the Catholic church.

Around 2,000 skilled workers, including masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, metalworkers, art specialists, sculptors, and engineers, contributed to the project, which is believed to have a budget of €700 million (£582 million).

The rector of the cathedral announced that tickets for the inaugural week of Masses were completely gone within just 25 minutes.

Royal Charm Campaign To Foster Connections

Insight from Sean Coughlan, royal reporter.

Prince William has been called into action, much like he was during his time with the air ambulance service, to quickly attend this meeting in Paris with President-elect Donald Trump.

In this case, it's the health of the unique bond between the US and the UK that needs saving.

It's a crucial relationship for both parties and for broader military alliances like NATO, yet there's a noticeable lack of understanding or sympathy between Starmer's Labour administration and the soon-to-be Republicans.

The royals, supported by taxpayer money, are stepping in to help ease tensions, with Prince William stepping into a diplomatic role by meeting with Trump prior to the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.

Trump is a big admirer of the royal family, which could create a more favorable link between him and them. The last time Prince William saw Trump was in 2019, when the former president visited the UK. During that trip, Trump expressed great excitement about his encounter with the late Queen Elizabeth II.

However, their approaches are vastly different. Prince William is known for his Earthshot environmental awards, which focus on sustainability, whereas Trump has criticized initiatives to promote green energy, labeling them as a "scam."

This week, Prince William volunteered at the Passage charity, where he helped serve dinner to those in need. On Friday evening, he also participated in a "kindness tree" initiative outside Westminster Abbey.

A kindness tree and activism focused on housing and climate change don’t quite align with the 'Make America Great Again' approach.

The purpose of this hastily organized meeting is to launch a royal charm campaign aimed at fostering cooperation during this unpredictable period for Western alliances.