Sunday, December 22, 2024

Prince William to meet Donald Trump in Paris ahead of Notre-Dame reopening

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Prince William will meet Donald Trump in Paris ahead of the ceremony marking the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

The Prince of Wales is expected to discuss the importance of the US-UK’s “special relationship” with the president-elect.

He will also be meeting with outgoing first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden’s wife, Kensington Palace added.

Read more: The restoration and the miraculous rescue

Mr Trump is among dozens of guests – including heads of state and government – invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the ceremony.

The reopening will include the ritualised opening of the cathedral’s massive doors, the reawakening of its organ and the celebration of the first Mass.

According to the cathedral’s rector, tickets for the first week of Masses were sold out in 25 minutes.

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2019: Notre-Dame on fire

It’s William’s first visit to Paris since 2017, when he travelled with wife Kate for a two-day trip in the aftermath of the Brexit result.

In June this year, he joined other world leaders in Normandy for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings.

Diplomatic opportunities at Notre-Dame

Donald Trump arrives in France today where he will meet numerous global heads of state for the first time since his re-election.

The meetings will include time with Prince William.

Reports suggest that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also be present though no meeting with Mr Trump has yet been confirmed.

Beyond the spectacle of the cathedral’s reopening, the presence of the US president-elect transforms the weekend into a potentially significant diplomatic moment.

Read the full analysis here.

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