Just a few hours after US President-elect Donald Trump walked a Parisian red carpet with French President Emmanuel Macron, he headed to the British ambassador’s residence for another state visit. This time, his visit was to Prince William, for their first meetup (at least, officially) since 2019.
Both Trump and William were in the City of Lights for the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire on April 15, 2019. The loss was so shocking that it elicited unusually emotional messages from then-Queen Elizabeth and then-Prince Charles, who sent separate notes of condolence to Macron.
“My wife and I were utterly heartbroken to learn of the terrible fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral this evening and wanted to let you know immediately how much we are thinking of yourself and the French people at this most agonizing of times, and of the emergency services who are so bravely tackling the blaze,” the man we now know as King Charles III wrote.
“I realize only too well what a truly special significance the Cathedral holds at the heart of your nation; but also for us all outside France, it represents one of the greatest architectural achievements of Western Civilization. It is a treasure for all mankind and, as such, to witness its destruction in this most dreadful conflagration is a shattering tragedy, the unbearable pain of which we all share.”
