The Prince of Wales has met the President elect of the United States, Donald Trump, as both attended the reopening of Notre Dame in Paris.
Prince William shook hands with the President elect as they took their seats in the cathedral ahead of the service that marked the full restoration of the church after a devastating fire in 2019.
The heir to the throne later welcomed Donald Trump to the British Ambassador’s residence in Paris where they held private talks after a photo call in which the politician said the Prince was doing a ”fantastic job”.
(Sky TV still/ fair use)
The two exchanged smiles and a few words before Mr Trump patted Prince William on the shoulder.
They were set for a further, private meeting after the ceremony finished.
(Sky TV still/ fair use)
The Prince of Wales joined a host of other royals at the service.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians were in attendance as were the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg who sat with Prince William. Prince Albert II of Monaco was also present for the celebratory service.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife, Brigitte, greeted their VIP guests at the cathedral doors ahead of the ceremony.
(Sky TV still/ fair use)
As President Vlodomyr Zelensky of Ukraine took his seat inside, the other guests in the cathedral broke into a round of applause. Donald Trump was seen to stop and greet the Ukrainian leader warmly – the two had earlier met for talks at the Elysee Palace with President Macron.
The symbolic reopening of Notre Dame came as the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, banged on the doors with a crozier made from the charred wood which had fallen from the cathedral roof during the blaze. As the heavy doors finally swung open, music played and Notre Dame was, once more, open.
