Prince William has presented former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with a damehood, who he works with in support of his Earthshot Prize initiative.
Ardern described the occasion as “particularly special” when she received the award on Wednesday.
Ardern was appointed as a trustee for William’s environmental initiative and continues to serve in the position.
The Prince and Princess of Wales wrote on their official Instagram account: “It was a privilege to present you with this deserved award at Windsor today!”
Prince William presents former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with damehoodEarthshot PrizeThey called her “a friend, an extraordinary advocate for the environment and now a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.”
Ardern said she was “incredibly honored and very humbled” by her damehood felt the honor acknowledged her family, her former colleagues and New Zealanders who gave her the “extraordinary privilege of serving them for five years.”
She was pictured smiling, wearing a traditional Maori cloak, Korowai, which is worn during special ceremonies after she was made a dame.
The former prime minister, who was in office from 2017 to 2023, said she was in “two minds” about accepting the title when it was announced but is “incredibly humbled”.
Jacinda Ardern was pictured smiling, wearing a traditional Maori cloak, Korowai, which is worn during special ceremonies after she was made a dame.
She continued: “So many of the things we went through as a nation over the last five years were about all of us rather than one individual, but I have heard that said by so many Kiwis who I have encouraged to accept an honour over the years.
“This is a way to say thank you to my family, to my colleagues, and to the people who supported me to take on the most challenging and rewarding role of my life.”
Prince William met the former New Zealand prime minister during her time leading the Commonwealth country.
She spoke on his behalf at the inaugural Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit in New York City in September 2022.
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Prince William at the 2023 Earthshot ceremony.GettyPrince William created The Earthshot Prize in 2020 to promote impactful approaches to the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
He plans to award prizes until 2030, with winners receiving £1 million to support reviving and repairing the environment.
Prince William called it an honour to welcome Arden to the Earthshot Prize team in a tweet signed with his personal initial W.
He wrote: “Her life-long commitment to supporting sustainable and environmental solutions, along with her experience as Prime Minister of New Zealand, will bring a rich infusion of new thinking to our mission.”