In a heartbreaking twist, Prince William is scheduled to visit France at the last minute tomorrow at the request of the British government. He will attend the opening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, five years after a fire nearly destroyed it. Donald Trump will also be in attendance, as Prince William represents King Charles and the government. Several heads of state, including US President-elect Donald Trump, have accepted French President Emmanuel Macron's invitation to attend the ceremony. Notre Dame has been undergoing renovations since April 2019, following a fire that devastated the cathedral's oak roof beams and supporting structure.

The visit marks the first time in five years that William has met the president-elect, their last meeting being during Trump's state visit to the UK in 2019 when he was hosted by the late Queen. Author Tina Brown has provided insight into why William and Catherine dislike royal trips abroad, citing not just the travel time or hectic schedules but the disruption to their family life, especially the princess's distance from their children, which intrudes on what William calls 'me time.'

The Welsh family at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, England, with their three children. Their most recent major royal tour abroad took place in spring 2022, followed by shorter trips to places such as Boston in late 2022 and Jordan in June 2023. Their previous royal tour abroad in March 2022 included an eight-day trip to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, which included Jamaica and the Bahamas. The trip was intended to showcase the modern image of the British monarchy in a region where republican sentiment is growing.

However, the couple returned to Britain amid accelerated talk of replacing the Queen as head of state. Despite many cheerful photos and videos, the trip was ultimately seen as a public relations failure. The British royal family is making subtle but significant adjustments to its approach, shifting away from traditional ribbon-cutting ceremonies to more socially relevant causes. Members of the royal family, including Prince William, King Charles III, Princess Catherine and Queen Camilla, are aligning themselves with a variety of social causes they support.

Royal correspondent Rihan Mills notes that during his visit to South Africa, Prince William expressed his intention to focus on impactful royal duties. This year, he has prioritized homelessness and mental health, while other senior royals have supported different causes: Catherine focused on initiatives for young children, Camilla has fought against domestic violence, and Charles raised awareness of food waste and poverty on his birthday.