Former prime minister’s top honour

New Zealand’s former prime minister Jacinda Ardern has been presented with a damehood by Prince William.

Ardern, who was elected as prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37, was recognised with one of the country’s highest honours, for services to the state, in the New Zealand order of merit on Wednesday at Windsor Castle.

The mother-of-one, who stepped down as prime minister in 2023, said she was “incredibly honoured and very humbled” by the honour.

She said it was “particularly special” to be presented the honour by the Prince of Wales.

The pair were seen giggling as they interacted during the presentation.

Ms Ardern was recognised for 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”.

The official citation also listed her leadership in response to the 15 March terrorist attacks.

She released a statement ahead of the ceremony, saying: “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.”

Ms Ardern shocked the world when she announced in January last year that she would not be seeking re-election as prime minister.

Ms Ardern was a reluctant leader, stepping into the role of Labour leader just seven weeks out from the 2017 general election after Andrew Little stepped down.

Before being elected to the top office she learned she was pregnant with her first child, sparking questions on how she would be able to lead the country with a newborn.

She gave birth to daughter Neve on June 21 in 2018 and returned to work in August that year after taking six weeks maternity leave.

During her first term, she made international headlines when she was the first female leader to bring an infant into the UN General Assembly.

While she delivered her speech, long-term partner Clarke Gayford held three-month-old Neve.

Her time as prime minister has been marred with many disasters, including the 2019 mosque attacks, the White Island volcano disaster and the Covid pandemic.

She was planning to marry Mr Gayford in January 2022 but their plans were put on hold as the country battled its Omicron outbreak.

When announcing she would be stepping down, she explained it was due to having “no more in the tank”.

“I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead – and also when you’re not,” she said.

“I know when I have enough left in the tank to do it justice.

“I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.

“To Neve, mum is looking forward to being there when you start school next year. And to Clarke, let’s get married.”

The pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Hawke’s Bay in January this year.