Prince William’s recent encounter with Donald Trump has sparked discussions about the evolving dynamics within the royal family, with experts suggesting it may serve as a stark reminder to King Charles of the growing influence of the Prince of Wales.
The future king made an unplanned trip to Paris to participate in the grand reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral, a historic moment following its near destruction in a devastating fire.
Among the prominent figures attending was U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who later had a private meeting with Prince William.
During their exchange, the two leaders shared a warm handshake, with Trump praising William as a “good man” and commending him for doing a “fantastic job.”
The interaction highlighted William’s increasing prominence on the global stage, drawing admiration from one of the most polarizing figures in international politics.
This moment not only cemented William’s growing stature but also underscored the shifting spotlight within the monarchy as he continues to garner attention and accolades on the world stage.
And royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop believes Trump certainly seemed taken with the prince who exuded “untouchable confidence”.
She told the Mirror : “All hail the Prince William of Wales, the only man really standing shoulder to shoulder with America’s bolshie new president-elect, Donald Trump, in a wet Paris this weekend. Royal commentators gushed over the dawn of a new special relationship, with the future King sealing the deal perched opposite Trump on the British ambassadors’ golden upholstery.
“Height wasn’t the only in-built advantage that William enjoyed; he exuded the untouchable confidence that comes with future kingship. Unlike Macron and Zelensky, who were subjected to Trump’s ostentatious grandstanding and power pummels, William received a shoulder pat and a paternal compliment – ‘good man, this one’.
“The American’s casual platitude a tacit acknowledgment that William has something even Trump can’t match – the magic of royalty.”
“Observers have commented on the unlikely bromance between a prince who helped decorate a ‘kindness tree’ outside Westminster Abbey on Friday evening and an unrepentant president who wants to drill his way to making America Great Again.
However, Tessa says that despite it seeming to be a good weekend for all, she believes there is one person who may have found the meeting tough to watch – the King.
She added: “It must be tough for Charles, a man who waited over seventy years for the big gig, to play second fiddle to his son. Time and again recently, William has grabbed the headlines: in Commando uniform firing a gun, wearing a pinny serving Christmas fare to the homeless, and accompanying his wife Catherine, during the Emir of Qatar ’s state visit. All eyes are always on William and the Waleses.
“Charles’s battle with cancer has not helped, but even the monarch’s illness took second place to the Princess of Waleses’ shock diagnosis. The King, for so long overshadowed by his extraordinary mother, now finds himself outperformed by his eldest son, with William’s weekend jaunt in Paris another painful reminder of who holds royalty’s trump card.”
