UK's Prince William to meet US President-elect Trump for first time since 2019

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - The UK's Prince William is expected to meet on Saturday with US President-elect Donald Trump after the ceremonial reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, marking the first of their meetings since 2019.

The Prince of Wales, who attended the event at the request of the UK government, joined French President Emmanuel Macron and numerous world leaders to celebrate the restoration of the iconic landmark, which had been ravaged by a fire five years ago.

Following the ceremony, Prince William is scheduled to meet Trump to discuss the enduring importance of the "special relationship" between the US and the UK, Kensington Palace said.

At the event, Trump greeted Prince William with a friendly pat on the shoulder before they exchanged a brief conversation.

The meeting, which had been planned ahead of the ceremony, was delayed due to weather disruptions in the prince’s travel schedule from the UK.

This meeting is part of a broader royal effort to strengthen international ties, particularly between the US and the UK, amid ongoing shifts in political dynamics, BBC reported.

In addition to his meeting with Trump, Prince William was also expected to meet outgoing US First Lady Jill Biden at the ceremony, following a change in his schedule.

His last official visit to Paris was in 2017, with his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, following the Brexit referendum.

The reopening of Notre Dame marks a significant milestone in the cathedral's restoration, which required the efforts of over 2,000 artisans and specialists and a budget of €700 million.

The restoration has taken five years, following the fire that devastated the building in 2019.

The event’s success was met with widespread enthusiasm, as tickets for the first week of Masses sold out in just 25 minutes.