As New Zealand’s former Prime Minister, Ardern gained international notoriety for her handling of the Christchurch mosque attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and her far-left approach to politics.
She was removed from office by an irate New Zealand electorate in 2022, before she joined the World Economic Forum as a full-time advisor.
According to the Palace, the award acknowledges her impact on both New Zealand and the global stage, marking a milestone in her career in public life.
This honor is said to reflect the “global respect” she commands for “her leadership and commitment to social justice.”
Prince William and Jacinda Ardern previously appeared together at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where William’s father King Charles is an Agenda Contributor alongside Ardern.
In a statement ahead of the ceremony on Wednesday, Ardern 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 honor 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.’
In a social media post, Prince William and wife Kate called her a friend, an extraordinary advocate, and now a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the State.
Dame Jacinda was in the UK for a meeting of the Earthshot Prize, a climate change award of which she is a trustee.
The movement behind the prize was just as important, she said.
“About telling every single person out there that we don’t have to wait, for this catastrophe to happen to us, that there are things we can do and that are being done.”
The article discusses the recognition of Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's former Prime Minister, who received a damehood from Prince William. Ardern is noted for her leadership during crises such as the Christchurch mosque attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her left-leaning political stance, which ultimately led to her resignation in 2022. The award acknowledges her influence on both New Zealand and the international community, especially through her work with the World Economic Forum. Prince William's praise of her as a friend and advocate further underscores the significance of her achievements in the realms of social justice and environmental advocacy, exemplified by her involvement with the Earthshot Prize.