The Prince of Wales met US President-elect Donald Trump during his visit to France at the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral.
Prince William joined other world leaders in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous landmark, which was destroyed by fire five years ago.
After shaking hands at the ceremony, the two met again afterwards, where the president-elect described the prince as a “good man” who did a “good job”.
During the event, French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech in which he said about the restoration: “we must respect this lesson of weakness, humility and will”.
Other leaders and dignitaries at the event included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, who represented President Joe Biden.
Prince William was expected to discuss the importance of the US-UK “special relationship” with Trump and the first lady during their meetings.
Greeting the prince at the event, 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 visited the UK.
Prince William, who attended at the request of the UK government, joined French President Emmanuel Macron and a number of other heads of state at the event on Saturday.
William and Trump met at the residence of the British ambassador in Paris.
The prince was standing in the foyer when Trump arrived. The two shook hands and greeted each other again, before Trump pointed to the Prince of Wales saying: “Good man, this one”.
Prince William asked the president-elect if he was warming up, Trump replied that he had and that it was “a good event”.
The prince was also supposed to meet Trump and Dr. Biden earlier in the day but Kensington Palace said he was delayed by the weather on his trip from the UK to France.
Prince William’s trip to the event was delayed due to stormy weather [Reuters]
At the ceremony, the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich led more than 1,500 guests in the re-opening service.
A choir sang as Macron sat next to Trump. A message from the Pope was read aloud before the French president delivered his speech.
Parts of the event had to be rescheduled due to bad weather – and the concert which was due to take place on the esplanade will be shown on Friday.
The prince’s last official trip to Paris was in 2017, when he visited with the Princess of Wales on a two-day visit after the Brexit result.
He joined other world leaders in Normandy earlier this year for the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day landings.
The ancient cathedral has been closed since a massive fire broke out in it in 2019, destroying its stained glass windows and wooden interior before demolishing its tower.
About 600 firefighters battled the blaze for 15 hours. The main structure of the 850-year-old building was preserved, including its two bell towers.
Macron set himself a five-year goal of rebuilding the Catholic church shortly after the fire.
An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, fitters, roofers, designers, artists, sculptors and engineers worked on the project, which is reported to have cost €700m (£582m).
Tickets for the first week of Masses in the temple sold out in 25 minutes, said the manager of the cathedral.
Royal charm attacks to help build bridges
Analysis by Sean Coughlan, royal correspondent
Prince William has been whisked away, as in his old air ambulance days, to rush to this meeting in Paris with President-elect Donald Trump.
What needs to be salvaged in this event is the well-being of the special relationship between the US and the UK.
Communication is important to both parties – and military links as wide as Nato – but there is not much sympathy evident between Starmer’s Labor government and the incoming Republicans.
So members of the royal family, funded by taxpayers, are being deployed to pave the way, and Prince William is taking on a royal role, meeting with Trump before attending the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral.
Trump is a royal fan, so that would make a great connection. Prince William last met Trump in 2019, during the then president’s visit to the UK, where Trump spoke enthusiastically about his meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But there is a big difference 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 for the homeless and on Friday night he was helping with the “tree of grace” outside Westminster Abbey.
The kindness tree and campaigning for housing and climate change isn’t exactly ‘Make America Great Again’ style.
But the purpose of this hastily arranged meeting will be a royal attack to help build bridges in the uncertain time of the western alliances.
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