Prince William Steps Up His Statesman Role to Represent King Charles at Reopening of Notre Dame

Prince William is taking on a more prominent statesman role, representing his father King Charles at the reopening of the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Dec. 7 while Charles, 76, is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The Prince of Wales, 42, will stand alongside dozens of other world leaders, including president-elect Donald Trump at the historic monument. The cathedral was devastated by fire five years ago and has undergone a mammoth rebuild.

William’s visit mirrors his appearance at the commemorations of the D-Day landings in June, when joined by over 25 heads of state, fellow European royals and veterans from around the world to step in for his father at the key ceremony to remember the sacrifices made on June 6, 1944.

French President Emmanuel Macron invited William to Notre Dame’s reopening on his father’s behalf.

On Wednesday, the links between the two families were further forged when Queen Camilla joined Marcon’s wife, Brigitte, at a literary event in London. Camilla, 77, was given a book about the cathedral by Brigitte Macron, President Macron’s wife.

As well as meeting with world leaders when they visit the U.K. — such as the Amir of Qatar earlier this week — William has held top-level meetings on his travels. He saw then President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. and in London in 2016; President Joe Biden when he was in Boston for his Earthshot Prize in 2022; and President Xi Jinping of China in March 2015. William also sat down with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in November during his visit to Cape Town in November.

On Dec. 7, much of Paris will come to a standstill as the ceremony to mark the rebirth of Notre Dame takes place.

The cathedral by the River Seine in Paris, was wrecked by the blaze on April, 15, 2019. President Macron unveiled the magnificent newly-completed structure on a televised tour on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, according to NBC News.

In remarks ahead of his visit, Macron spoke of the long process to reconstruct the historic site. 

“This project was a human adventure of epic proportions in terms of building and prowess, involving the patient and dedicated work of a chain of talents working with one another passing the torch to those of the centuries to come,” Macron said.

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Many were highly skeptical of Macron’s promise and commitment that the Notre Dame Cathedral would be restored, but he said he is proud to have succeeded. “It was a challenge many deemed impossible, yet one we will have met on,” he said. 

William’s trip to Paris will come a day after he and wife Princess Kate kick off the Christmas festivities at a carol service at Westminster Abbey.