Prince William to attend reopening of Notre-Dame 10 hours ago Anna Lamche BBC News The Prince of Wales will attend the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris this weekend, Kensington Palace has announced.
Prince William will travel to France on Saturday, where he will join a celebration to mark the restoration of the world-famous Gothic building, which was devastated by a fire five years ago.
The prince is travelling “at the request of His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the United Kingdom”, Kensington Palace said.
Last week, Macron toured the building on live TV ahead of its official opening, giving the public a first look inside it.
Prince William last visited Paris in 2017, when he travelled to the French capital with his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, for a two-day trip.
Prince William will be present when Notre Dame reopens.
ten hours prior.
Anna Lamche. .
The BBC News.
According to Kensington Palace, the Prince of Wales will be present at the reopening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris this weekend.
On Saturday, Prince William will travel to France and participate in a celebration commemorating the restoration of the famous Gothic structure that was destroyed by a fire five years ago.
Kensington Palace stated that the prince is traveling “at the request of His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the United Kingdom.”.
Together with other world leaders and heads of state, he will attend the reopening ceremony alongside US President-elect Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Since a significant fire destroyed the medieval cathedral’s wooden interiors and stained-glass windows in 2019 and then toppled its spire, it has been closed.
The fire was fought for 15 hours by about 600 firefighters.
Including its two bell towers, the 850-year-old building’s main structure was preserved.
Shortly after the fire, Macron set a five-year timeline for the Catholic church’s reconstruction.
The French culture ministry reported at the time that millions of euros had been pledged or raised for the project.
The project, which was estimated to have cost €700 million (£582 million), involved an estimated 2,000 masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry workers, art specialists, sculptors, and engineers.
During a state visit to France last year, King Charles saw the restoration at the cathedral and was shown the craftsmanship required to rebuild the site.
Prior to its official opening, Macron gave the public a first look inside the building last week when he gave a live TV tour.
In addition to being repaired, the building was cleared of the soot and dust from the fire that had accumulated for centuries.
Macron praised the artisans who had worked on the renovation in a speech.
“You have been the remedy for the national wound caused by the Notre Dame fire through your dedication, hard work, and willpower,” he stated.
Adding, “You have brought Notre-Dame back,” the president said, “I am so deeply grateful, France is so deeply grateful.”. “.
The last time Prince William visited Paris was in 2017, when he spent two days there with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The cathedral’s ceremonial opening of its enormous doors, the resuscitation of its booming organ, and the celebration of a first Mass are all part of the weekend-long reopening.
Tickets for the first week of Masses to be held in the restored church were sold out within twenty-five minutes of their release, according to the rector of the cathedral.
