Former U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and the UK’s Prince William met for a private discussion in Paris on Saturday following the ceremonial reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral, marking their first encounter since 2019.

The 40-minute meeting at the British ambassador’s residence covered topics ranging from global issues to personal matters, with Trump inquiring about the health of William’s wife Catherine and his father King Charles III, both of whom have been undergoing cancer treatment.

“He’s a big man, this one. He’s doing a fantastic job,” Trump remarked about the 42-year-old Prince of Wales during their meeting.

Kensington Palace described the encounter as “warm and friendly,” noting that the pair focused on the importance of the UK-US special relationship. During their conversation, Trump shared memories of William’s grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, “for which His Royal Highness was extremely grateful.”

The meeting took place amid broader diplomatic engagements surrounding the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral. The historic Paris landmark underwent extensive restoration after a devastating fire in 2019, with workers cleaning more than 42,000 square meters of stonework and installing 2,000 oak beams to rebuild the spire and roof.

More than 1,500 people attended the Paris ceremony, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, who represented President Biden at the event.

The guest list also featured notable figures such as actress Salma Hayek and her husband, French fashion magnate Francois-Henri Pinault, along with tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Prince William had originally planned to meet with Trump and First Lady Biden before the ceremony, but weather delays forced a schedule adjustment.

The meeting was seen as part of a “royal charm offensive” to strengthen ties between the UK and the incoming Republican administration. Trump and Prince William last met in 2019 during Trump’s state visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with Queen Elizabeth II.

The cathedral’s reopening ceremony featured the ringing of bells and a symbolic reopening by the archbishop of Paris, marking the completion of the extensive restoration project that restored the building’s iconic silhouette to the Paris skyline.