New Zealand‘s prime minister Jacinda Ardern receive a damehood during an investiture held at Windsor Castle today.
Prince William, 42, was the royal handing out the honours, and his friendship with Jacinta, 44, was on full show as the two interacted.
Smiling broadly in each other’s company, the two friends were pictured looking comfortable as they were in close physical proximity when the Prince of Wales pinned the honour onto her sash, near her waist.
The mother-of-one donned a navy blue maxi dress in a silky fabric, with short sleeves, a conservative round neckline, and generous skit.
She paired the frock with a pair of black heeled pumps. Meanwhile, her brunette locks were styled into a low bun, with two tendrils left loose to hang at either side of her face.
New Zealand ‘s prime minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured, left) receive a damehood during an investiture held at Windsor Castle today
Prince William (pictured, left) was the royal handing out the honours, and his friendship with Jacinta (pictured, right) was on full show as the two interacted, smiling during the event
Meanwhile, Prince William looked dapper in dress uniform and a pair of classic black Oxford-style shoes.
Other people honoured at today’s investiture, which saw 57 people recognised, included ultra-runner Jasmin Paris, 40, from Midlothian, who was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Veterinary lecturer Dr Paris completed some of the toughest and most gruelling races around the world.
She made history by becoming the first woman to complete the 100-mile Barkley Marathons in Tennessee in March this year – just one of the
She made it across the finish line with 99 seconds to spare before the 60-hour cut-off. Dr Paris won the British Fell Running Championships in 2015 and again in 2018, and she had previously held the record in the Bob Graham Round, a fell running challenge in the Lake District, and the Ramsay Round near Fort William.
Outside of running, Dr Paris is a senior lecturer in small animal medicine at the University of Edinburgh and a mother of two.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, who led a review of football governance in the wake of proposals for a breakaway European Super League, was also given a damehood.
The Prince of Wales’ former chief aide, Jean-Christophe Gray, was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO).
FRIENDS: The pair have shown their close bond before, when Prince William (pictured, left) greeted Jacinda (pictured, right) with a traditional Maori touch of the noses called a hongi during a two-day visit to New Zealand in 2019
He joined William in 2021 – the year after Megxit – and was in situ during the launch of the prince’s Homewards project to tackle homelessness and his transition to heir to the throne after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
His departure from Kensington Palace earlier this year came following news the Waleses were planning to restructure their household with a new chief executive.
The closeness exhibited today by the royal and the former New Zealand PM isn’t the first time their friendly bond has been caught on camera.
In 2019, during a two-day visit to New Zealand, the prince commemorated Anzac Day.
The then-Duke, who cut a sombre figure, donning a navy suit during the ceremony at Auckland’s War Memorial Museum, was joined by then PM-Jacinda Ardern.
William greeted Jacinda with a traditional Maori touch of the noses called a hongi.
According to reports, Jacinda was appointed a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours for her services to the state.
The appointment came just months after her shock resignation as PM.
Jacinda Ardern (pictured, left) was one of 57 people who were recognised at the investiture ceremony today
The former PM of New Zealand (pictured, right) released a statement ahead of today’s event, saying it would be would be a ‘really special day’
Her official citation listed her response to the Covid-19 pandemic, ‘positioning New Zealand as having one of the lowest Covid-19 related death rates in the Western world’.
It also listed her leadership in response to the 15 March terrorist attacks.
In a statement ahead of today’s ceremony, the former PM said: ‘It will be a really special day – but amongst it all, it will be home that I will be thinking of.
‘For me, accepting an honour is a way to say thank you to my family, those I worked with, and all the people who supported me to undertake a role that will forever be the greatest privilege of my life.’
She added that her family would be joining her for the event, as well as Whaea Esther Jessop from the London Māori club Ngāti Ranana – which had allowed her don one its ceremonial clocks (called kākahu) for the ceremony.
