Prince William Attends Notre Dame Reopening After Supporting Kate Middleton at Holiday Event

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Williamtraveled to Paris just hours after attendingKate Middleton’s annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey with their children to take part in the highly anticipated reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral.

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) with Prince William (middle) and Brigitte Macron on Dec. 7 in Paris, France.CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty

French President Emmanuel Macron (L) and his wife Brigitte (R) welcome Britain’s William, Prince of Wales head of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on December 7, 2024. Around 50 heads of state and government are expected in the French capital to attend the ceremony marking the rebuilding of the Gothic masterpiece five years after the 2019 fire which ravaged the world heritage landmark and toppled its spire. Some 250 companies and hundreds of experts were part of the five-year restoration project at a cost of hundreds of millions of euros.

CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/POOL/AFP via Getty

On Saturday, Dec. 7, the Prince of Wales, 42, represented his father,King Charlesas the monarchcontinues his cancer treatment. William joined world leaders and heads of state — including French President Emmanuel Macron,First Lady Jill Biden, and U.S. President-electDonald Trump— at the ceremony celebrating the restoration of the iconic Gothic cathedral.

Prince William.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

PARIS, FRANCE - DECEMBER 07: Prince William, Prince of Wales attends the ceremony to mark the reopening of Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral on December 07, 2024 in Paris, France. After five years of restoration, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens its doors to the world in the presence of Emmanuel Macron and around fifty heads of state, including Donald Trump, invited for the occasion.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

This marks the second major occasion this year where William has stepped in for his father in a diplomatic role. In June, he represented King Charles, 76, during the Second World War commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Buckingham Palace cited medical advice at the time for the King’s absence, though it has yet to address why William attended Notre Dame’s reopening instead of his father.

King Charles previously visited the cathedral during a state visit to France last year, where he was shown the craftsmanship involved in the cathedral’s restoration.

Donald Trump (left) and Prince William (right).LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty

US President-elect Donald Trump (L) gestures as he talks with Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales (R) inside Notre-Dame Cathedral ahead of a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the landmark cathedral, in central Paris, on December 7, 2024. Around 50 heads of state and government are expected in the French capital to attend the ceremony marking the rebuilding of the Gothic masterpiece five years after the 2019 fire which ravaged the world heritage landmark and toppled its spire. Some 250 companies and hundreds of experts were part of the five-year restoration project at a cost of hundreds of millions of euros

LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty

Prince William’s most recent visit to Paris was in 2017 when he and Kate spent two days in the French capital.

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Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

In a candid moment,Kate reflected on her challenging yearafter being diagnosed with cancer, telling carol concert performer Paloma Faith, “I didn’t know this year was going to be the year that I’ve just had.”

“The unplanned,” Faith said.

“The unplanned, exactly,” the Princess of Wales repeated, nodding her head, adding, “But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times, and many who are here today.”

source: people.com

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