Sophia Michaels
At the recent reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, Donald Trump had a brief interaction with Prince William, showing a warm demeanor despite past tensions. This event came five years after the historic church suffered a fire. Along with other leaders, Trump attended the ceremony where he encountered the Prince. We consulted lip reader Nicola Hickling, founder of Lipreader, to interpret their conversation.
President-elect Trump greets Prince William at Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France. pic.twitter.com/D5I8KU3tuy
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 7, 2024
During their meeting, lip reader Hickling noted that Prince William greeted Trump with “Happy to…” before the camera cut away. He added, “See you afterwards.” Trump responded with “I’d love…” and continued speaking as it appeared he might say even more before concluding their interaction. Their body language suggested a friendly exchange, with William smiling and bending slightly to engage, while Trump maintained a dominant stance typical of his persona.
Trump may not support Prince Harry
While Trump shared a cordial moment with Prince William, his sentiments towards Prince Harry are notably different. In 2020, Harry and Meghan Markle stirred controversy by stepping back from royal duties to relocate to the US, citing issues with the media and royal family. Harry’s revelations in his memoir, “Spare,” about past drug use have also sparked debates over his immigration status in the U.S. The Heritage Foundation even pursued legal action to investigate if Harry misrepresented his visa application, but a judge blocked the release of related information in September 2024, as reported by the BBC.
Even though Harry received a temporary reprieve, Trump hinted at his disapproval, stating during a CPAC event that he wouldn’t defend Harry if he became president, claiming “He betrayed the Queen. That’s unforgivable.” This might concern Harry, particularly since Trump just had a favorable engagement with William where they reminisced about the late Queen, as noted by a Kensington Palace spokesperson who confirmed they discussed various global matters. Thus, Harry might be wary of his brother’s growing rapport with Trump.
