PARIS — Former President Donald Trump praised the Prince of Wales for “doing a fantastic job” as the two met for a second time in Paris on Saturday.
Their meeting occurred after the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which marked the completion of a five-year restoration effort following the devastating fire in 2019.
According to Kensington Palace, the 40-minute meeting took place at the British ambassador’s residence. Trump and Prince William discussed a range of global issues, emphasizing the significance of the UK-US special relationship.
Trump also shared “warm and fond memories” of Queen Elizabeth II, which Prince William found “extremely grateful.”
Upon arriving, Trump warmly greeted the Prince, shaking his hand and remarking, “Good man, this one.” When asked if he had warmed up after the outdoor ceremony, Trump responded, “It was a beautiful ceremony,” to which William quipped, “We can warm our toes up after the cathedral,” prompting a smile from Trump.
This meeting marked their first encounter since Trump’s re-election last month. They last met during Trump’s 2019 state visit to the UK.
The Notre Dame reopening event, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, saw Trump seated next to French President Emmanuel Macron.
Other high-profile attendees included tech billionaire Elon Musk, US First Lady Jill Biden, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prince Albert of Monaco, and former French Presidents François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy were also present.
The ceremony celebrated the complete restoration of the iconic 12th-century church after a catastrophic fire nearly destroyed it in April 2019.
Global support poured in after the blaze, with donations reaching nearly $1 billion (£780 million).
This renewed diplomatic exchange highlights the importance of international ties and historic preservation efforts.
