07 December 2024 , 14:21
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The Prince of Wales is set to meet Donald Trump in Paris on Saturday, as the pair join world leaders for the ceremonial reopening of Notre-Dame.
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.
Kensington Palace added he will also be meeting with outgoing first lady Jill Biden, President Joe Biden’s wife, whom he met at the King’s coronation last year.
William last met Mr Trump during his state visit to the UK in 2019, while he crossed paths with Mr Biden in 2022 in Boston for his Earthshot Prize.
Mr Trump is among dozens of guests - including heads of state and government - invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the ceremony on Saturday evening.
According to the cathedral’s rector, tickets for the first week of Masses were sold out in 25 minutes - their first chance of the ritual at the cathedral since the fire on the evening of 15 April 2019.
The reopening will include the reawakening of the cathedral’s organ and the celebration of the first Mass.
France and the Catholic Church view the televised ceremonies as a chance to show resilience and global influence.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich will lead more than 1,500 guests through the reopening service in the first part of the cathedral’s rebirth, with an inaugural Mass set for Sunday.
It’s William’s first official 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.