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DONALD Trump has arrived in Paris and will meet Prince William ahead of the reopening ceremony for Notre Dame.
The incoming US leader will join the Prince of Wales and French President Emmanuel Macron to mark the return of the 800-year-old symbol of France.
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The iconic cathedral has been restored after a devastating fire in 2019 tore through the roof and destroyed much of the site’s heritage.
William is expected to discuss the importance of the US-UK’s ‘special relationship’ with Trump, Kensington Palace has announced.
The 42-year-old will also meet with outgoing First Lady Jill Biden, as will Trump.
The president-elect, making his first foreign trip since his election win, arrived at Orly airport in the south of Paris aboard a private plane just before 7am, a source told AFP.
Trump is also set to hold talks with Macron before the ceremony and may also meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Notre Dame’s reopening will include the ritualised opening of the cathedral’s massive doors, the reawakening of its organ and the celebration of the first Mass.
Macron toured the fully restored church last week as cameras were allowed in for the first time after the rebuilding project.
The extensive restoration took more than 60 months and cost a whopping £600million.
Work has included the total reconstruction of the collapsed fan-vaulted roof and spire, while builders unearthed previously unseen treasures from the smoking ruin.
Some 1200 oaks from across France were needed to completely rebuild the framework of the nave and the choir.
The ceremony comes at a critical time for Macron whose government is facing a crisis.
Earlier this week the 46-year-old announced he would not resign after his prime minister Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote in France’s parliament.
Trump’s movements will be highly watched – particularly if he were to meet with Zelensky.
He has pledged to get peace in Ukraine on “day one” with aides making clear Ukraine may need to cede land for peace, which Ukraine has rejected.
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