The Prince of Wales is set to meet US president-elect Donald Trump in Paris this Saturday, as he joins global leaders for the ceremonial reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral. The prince will be travelling to France at the request of the Government to attend the high-profile event, which celebrates the restoration of the iconic landmark after a devastating fire in 2019.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that while in Paris, William will hold meetings with both Mr Trump and America’s outgoing first lady Jill Biden ahead of the ceremony.
Mr Trump, along with dozens of other heads of state and government, accepted an invitation from French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the ceremony. The last time William met Mr Trump was in 2019 during the then-president’s state visit to the UK.
The prince’s most recent official visit to Paris was in 2017 when he travelled with his wife Kate for a two-day trip following the Brexit result.
Earlier this year, he joined other world leaders in Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Second World War D-Day landings. The reopening of Notre Dame will include the ritualised opening of the cathedral’s massive doors, the reawakening of its thunderous organ, and the celebration of the first Mass.
Both France and the Catholic Church view the televised and tightly scripted ceremonies as an opportunity to showcase resilience and global influence. According to the cathedral’s rector, tickets for the first week of Masses were snapped up in just 25 minutes.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich spearheaded the first phase of Notre Dame’s revival on Saturday evening, guiding over 1,500 guests through a reopening service.
The following day, Sunday, saw an inaugural Mass with special rites to consecrate the main altar.
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