Parisian Louis Manaranche and his 7-year-old son Paul braved the cold and rain to watch the reopening ceremony of the Notre Dame cathedral, expressing gratitude to those involved in its restoration. A crowd cheered for Macron as he appeared on screens outside the cathedral, while Prince William’s meeting with Jill Biden was rescheduled to take place at the ceremony. American carpenter Hank Silver, who helped rebuild part of the cathedral, was among the invited guests inside. The guest list included members of the French elite and celebrities like Salma Hayek and her husband François-Henri Pinault.
Elon Musk was also in attendance, with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Macron set to meet at the Élysée Palace. The weather took a turn, causing some festivities to move indoors, but the ceremony proceeded with the blessing of the Great Organ and the rite of the opening of the doors. Macron welcomed Trump to Paris, thanking him for being there, as the Archbishop led the service marking the “reawakening” of the Notre Dame. Despite the challenges of weather and delays, the reopening of the cathedral after the devastating fire five years ago was a moment of celebration, with dignitaries and spectators gathering to witness the historic event.
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