The Prince of Wales has met US President-elect Donald Trump while visiting France for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral.
Prince William has joined other world leaders in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous landmark, which was devastated by a fire five years ago.
He is set to have a meeting with president-elect after the ceremony, Kensington Palace said.
It is expected that the prince will discuss the importance of the US-UK “special relationship” with both Trump and the first lady during their respective meetings.
Greeting the prince at the ceremony, 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 made a state visit to the UK.
Prince William, who is attending at the request of the UK government, joined French President Emmanuel Macron and dozens of other heads of state at the ceremony on Saturday.
William and Trump, who will speak at another location in Paris after the ceremony, had originally been scheduled to meet before the event.
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The prince had also been due to meet outgoing first lady Jill Biden ahead of the ceremony but will now meet her at the ceremony.
Kensington Palace said he had been delayed by weather on his journey from the UK to France.
The prince’s last official trip to Paris was in 2017, when he visited with the Princess of Wales for a two-day trip in the aftermath of the Brexit result.
He joined other world leaders in Normandy earlier this year for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War D-Day landings.
The medieval cathedral has been closed since a major fire tore through it in 2019, destroying its stained-glass windows and wooden interiors before toppling its spire.
Some 600 firefighters battled the blaze for 15 hours. The main structure of the 850-year-old building was saved, including its two bell towers.
Macron set a five-year goal for the reconstruction of the Catholic church shortly after the fire.
An estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry-workers, art experts, sculptors and engineers worked on the project, which reportedly cost €700m.
Tickets for the first week of Masses in the cathedral sold out in 25 minutes, the cathedral’s rector said.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will lead more than 1,500 guests through the reopening service on Saturday.
BBC.com
