President-elect Donald Trump and Prince William came together on Saturday for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking a symbolic meeting of leaders ahead of Trump’s upcoming inauguration.
The two had a “warm, friendly meeting,” Kensington Palace said.
“The pair discussed a range of global issues but focused on the importance of the UK/US special relationship. President Trump also shared some warm and fond memories with The Prince about the Late Queen for which [His Royal Highness] was extremely grateful.”
Trump praised William, saying he was a “great man.”
“Great man this one. He’s going to do a fantastic job,” Trump said of the prince.
Following the event, the two held a private meeting at the British Embassy in Paris to discuss the enduring “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom.
During the Notre Dame ceremony, Trump and Prince William also engaged with other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Representing the United States at the event in President Biden’s absence, First Lady Jill Biden was seen conversing with Prince William as well.
Prince William was tasked with representing Britain at the historic occasion. His meeting with Trump was their first since Trump’s state visit to the U.K. in 2019 during his previous term in office.
The reopening of Notre Dame marks the culmination of years of restoration following the catastrophic fire in 2019, which severely damaged the iconic nearly 900-year-old cathedral, a centerpiece of Parisian culture and history.
