Dame Jacinda, who was elected in 2017 at the age of 37, was recognised by the Prince of Wales on Wednesday with one of the country’s highest honours – the New Zealand Order of Merit – for services to the state. Dame Jacinda Ardern was honoured by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle (Jonathan Brady/PA)Of the royal honour, Dame Jacinda told the PA news agency she was “incredibly honoured and very humbled” and that she felt it acknowledged her family, her former colleagues and New Zealanders who gave her the “extraordinary privilege of serving them for five years”. Renowned for her new style of leadership, Dame Jacinda was praised around the world for her handling of the country’s worst-ever mass shooting in March 2019. Last year, it was announced that Dame Jacinda was joining the board of trustees of the Prince’s Earthshot Prize that gives a £1 million grant to winning projects aimed at protecting the planet. At the time of the announcement, William said her “encouragement and advice” had been “crucial to the prize’s early success”.

Source: The Herald October 16, 2024 14:20 UTC