Jack Burgess
Live page editor

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"The bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again," French President Emmanuel Macron declared during the reopening ceremony of the world-famous cathedral in Paris.

The medieval cathedral has been closed since a major fire tore through it in 2019, destroying its stained-glass windows and wooden interiors before toppling its spire.

Now, however, Notre-Dame has reopened after an expensive restoration project over several years.

A host of world leaders were present to witness the historic moment, including Prince William, US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Zelensky.

We're about to close this live page but you can continue reading about Notre-Dame with these stories:

• Prince William meets Trump at Notre-Dame reopening
• Embattled Macron seeks boost from Notre Dame reopening
• Gargoyles, stained glass and the spire: How Notre-Dame was restored

This page was edited by Rorey Bosotti and Jack Burgess, and written by Emma Rossiter.

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Aside from the 50 world leaders in attendance tonight, there are also some other familiar faces among the congregation.

The world's richest man, Elon Musk is there.

He'd been seen speaking with US President-elect Trump - who appointed him lead of a newly-created "Department of Government Efficiency" back in November - before the service began.

The invitation to the ceremony has also been extended to a number of Hollywood stars including Salma Hayek.

Her husband was one of the major donors, donating €200 million, to the restoration of the cathedral.

It’s a big occasion for President Macronpublished at 20:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 December

20:10 GMT 7 December

Hugh Schofield
Paris Correspondent

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The Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich rapped on the portal of Notre-Dame with his crozier, marking the start of this ceremony of reopening.

Inside the choir answered the archbishop in song – taking on as it were the person of the cathedral.

French President Macron was seated next to US President-elect Trump.

Prince William and many other leaders and dignitaries from around the world were there, as well as some of the big donors whose millions have helped rescue the cathedral after the conflagration of five years ago.

After more music, a message from the Pope, and an address from President Macron, the archbishop called on the organ – itself totally renovated – to ring forth praises of God.

The ceremony had to be hastily reconfigured because of the stormy weather outside; a concert that was due to take place on the esplanade was actually staged yesterday, and it was a recording broadcast after the ceremony on television.

Image source, Reuters

It’s a big occasion for President Macron, who hopes the undoubted triumph of the cathedral’s restoration under his watch will distract from his deep political difficulties.

Getting Trump to attend was certainly a success, and earlier this afternoon at the Elysée the two men resumed the relationship that they started during Trump’s first term.

Ukraine was of course a major item on the agenda, and President Zelensky who was also in Paris, joined them for a trilateral.

It’s cultural diplomacy, President Macron hoping the magnificence of the Notre-Dame moment will help create a meeting of minds on pressing international affairs.

This was the moment a little while ago when dignitaries in Notre-Dame clapped for the firefighters, rescuers and builders involved with the cathedral's restoration.

A line of firefighters paraded through the cathedral for its reopening ceremony.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

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Pope Francis has called today a day of "joy, celebration and praise".

The Pope hasn't attended the ceremony in person but, in a message read aloud during the reopening, said he hopes "the rebirth of this admirable church would constitute a prophetic sign of the renewal of the Church in France".

He has also said entry to the cathedral should remain "free of charge" amid suggestions from the French culture ministry that visitors could be charged a fee.

The French president says the bells of Notre-Dame have "accompanied our history".

Macron also says "we must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility and will" and never forget how much each person counts.

He adds that "the greatness of this cathedral is inseparable from the work of all".

Macron concludes his speech by saying "long live Notre-Dame" and long live the French republic.

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, is now speaking in Notre-Dame and expresses his gratitude to his nation for the cathedral's restoration.

He says "we had the will, the hope, the daring" to rebuild Notre-Dame and make it more beautiful than ever.

Macron continues by saying that the cathedral tell us “that our dreams - even the wildest of them – are only possible if everyone commits to it".

He adds that Notre-Dame reminds us that:

We've just seen Notre-Dame lit up with the words for thank you from many different languages.

The lighting display is a sign of gratitude for the people who have dedicated so much time, such as engineers and carpenters, to restoring the cathedral.

Paris firefighters have been given a standing ovation.

Image source, Reuters

The Prince of Wales has greeted US President-elect Donald Trump at the Notre Dame ceremony.

Trump gave William a pat on the shoulder before the two shook hands and spoke for a few seconds.

Kensington Palace says that Prince William and Trump will both meet after the ceremony in another location in Paris.

Image source, Getty Images

Macron has arrived at the re-opening of Notre Dame, ahead of this evening's celebrations. Prince William and President-Elect Donald Trump will also be in Paris for the ceremony.

Macron is set to deliver a speech at approximately 19:00 CET (18:00 EST) before heading in for a commemorative service hosted by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris.

The choirs of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris will also sing during the service before a televised concert is broadcast from 21:15 CET (20:15 GMT).

President-elect Trump is also now at the cathedral.

He is greeted by Macron, whom he had already met a couple of hours ago for a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky at the Élysée Palace.

Prince William has now arrived for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame.

William will be meeting with Donald Trump after the ceremony rather than before as previously planned.

He will meet Dr Jill Biden at the ceremony. The bad weather is causing delays and changes to the timetable.

In the last few minutes, Macron has replaced Michel Barnier in welcoming guests outside Notre-Dame.

He has greeted predecessors François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy before taking the to take an official photo with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.

Macron exchanges a warm embrace with Polish President Andrzej Duda as Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife Maria Teresa walk swiftly from their car to the canopy outside the cathedral to escape the drizzle.

After his quick trilateral meeting at the Élysée Palace with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, Macron is now at Notre-Dame.

Macron is escorted by wife Brigitte, with now-ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier welcoming him outside the cathedral.

As we approach the start of the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame, expected to kick off around 19:00 CET (18:00 GMT), we can bring you more pictures of guests arriving

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Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

This coming week will be dedicated to celebrating the re-opening of Notre-Dame, with events expected between 8 December and 15 December.

However, after that the cathedral will resume its daily opening hours and welcome visitors once more.

You can plan ahead for your visit by booking online - that system has been available since 3 December - but reservations are not required - although when we last checked there was a queue.

Entry is free of charge and opening hours are 07:45 to 19:00 local time Monday to Friday, with extended opening to 22:00 on Thursdays.

The cathedral is also open between 08:15 and 19:30 on Saturdays and Sundays.

Image source, Getty Images

• None of the 800-year-old timbers survived the fire, and about 1,200 oak trees had to be found to replace them
• Over 40,000 square metres (430,556 square feet) of stone were cleaned, with experts detecting tiny features in the original stone, like certain fossils, that helped them to determine the geographical origin for replacement stone
• The nearly 8,000 pipes that make up the great organ had to be cleaned due to the accumulation of a yellow dust - lead monoxide - in its pipes from the fire
• A workshop was set up in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral to repair any damaged exterior sculptures, such as gargoyles and chimaeras. Five exterior sculptures were scanned by computer and then re-made into limestone.
• Archaeologists working on the renovation uncovered bones believed to belong to Joachim de Bellay, a Renaissance poet

Learn more about how Notre-Dame was restored

Last week, President Emmanuel Macron received a tour of Notre-Dame cathedral ahead of its reopening today.

Macron toured the grand entrance and climbed high into the cathedral to examine new timber roofing.

He was also shown the exquisite restoration work that’s been carried out over more than five years.

If you missed his tour, you can take a look back through our coverage of it.

Here are some highlights from his visit, in five photos.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

As we mentioned a littler earlier, Prince William and President-Elect Donald Trump will be in Paris today to mark the re-opening of Notre-Dame after five years of restoration works. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also in Paris.

US President Joe Biden will be represented by his wife Dr Jill Biden.

A swathe of European leaders will also attend – including Italian President Sergio Mattarella, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Queen Sonja of Sweden and Prince Albert of Monaco will also be in Paris to mark the occasion

We're now getting photos of the first guests arriving at Notre-Dame before this evening's ceremony.

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA