Outgoing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will join the Earthshot Prize Board of Directors.
The 42-year-old, who stepped down in January after saying she no longer had “enough in the tank,” praised the organization for its “strength to not only encourage and spread the innovation we so desperately need, but also for her optimism’.
In an Instagram post, Earthshot, a project led by the Prince of Wales to recognize contributions to environmental awareness, praised the campaigners’ “lifelong commitment to sustainable development and climate action.”
It comes after Ms Ardern appeared to distance herself from William’s brother Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle last year after she made a statement about her appearance in the Netflix Live To Lead docuseries hosted by the Sussexes.
The politician insisted she was unaware of their involvement when she agreed to join the program, which celebrates “inspiring leaders” throughout history.
Outgoing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been announced to the Earthshot Prize Board of Directors
In a statement on Earthshot’s website, Prince William expressed his delight at the new appointment. Pictured: The then prime minister greeted the royal family with a traditional ‘hongi’ welcome in 2019
In a statement on Earthshot’s website, Prince William expressed his delight at the new appointment.
He said, “It is an honor to welcome Jacinda to the Earthshot Prize team.
“Her lifelong commitment to supporting sustainable and environmentally sound solutions, together with her experience as Prime Minister of New Zealand, will bring a rich input of new thinking to our mission.
“Four years ago, before the Earthshot Prize even had a name, Jacinda was one of the first people I spoke to, and her encouragement and advice were critical to the early success of the Prize.
“I am extremely grateful to her for coming to us to take the next steps in her career.”
Another statement, from Christiana Figueres, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: ‘I have long been inspired by Jacinda’s work as a catalyst in the fight against climate change.
The ex-Prime Minister and Prince William met at Kensington Palace last year when she visited this summer, on her first trip to the UK since the Covid-19 pandemic
Prince William and Jacinda Ardern on his solo visit to New Zealand in 2019, where he took part in ANZAC ceremonies and visited the two mosques where a gunman killed 50 people in March that year
“She is a great champion of environmental innovation, and her perspective, experience and guidance will undoubtedly have a powerful impact on the entire Earthshot Prize organization.
“My fellow trustees and I are delighted to welcome Jacinda to her new role.”
Other trustees include David Fein (Vice President and Special Counsel at Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP) and Tokunboh Ishmael (Founder and Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Alitheia Capital).
It is not the first time Ms Ardern appears to have been friends with the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the pair were among those who thanked the politician for her support while leading the Commonwealth nation, particularly after death from Queen Elizabeth.
At the start of the year, William and Kate took to their Kensington Royal Twitter account to share their gratitude to the politician when she said she would step down as leader.
The message, signed by ‘W&C’, read: ‘Thank you Jacinda Ardern for your friendship, leadership and support over the years, not least at the time of my grandmother’s passing. I send you, Clarke and Neve our best wishes.’
The post referred to Clarke Gayford, the prime minister’s long-term partner and fiancée, and their daughter Neve Te Aroha, who was born in June 2018.
Meghan and Jacinda Ardern seemed to have a budding friendship sparked during the 2018 New Zealand royal tour
New Zealand’s prime minister donned a Maori cloak during her last public appearance, visiting the Maori settlement of Ratana in the North Island in January.
Pictured: Jacinda wears a custom feather Kākahu, a traditional cloak, created for the occasion by Maori designer Kiri Nathan, at the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022
Prince William, his wife and Ms Ardern have met several times since taking office in 2017.
Their last official meeting took place when Mrs Ardern attended the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September.
Late last year, she issued a statement about her appearance in a Netflix docuseries hosted by Meghan and Harry, insisting she was unaware of the couple’s involvement when she agreed to take part.
Live To Lead was created by New Zealand-based production company Blackwell & Ruth in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Sussex family’s production company Archewell.
While the pair are listed as executive producers, Ms Ardern’s office released a statement in response to questions from journalists clarifying that her involvement had nothing to do with the Duke and Duchess.
Before that, the Duchess of Sussex and the Prime Minister of New Zealand seemed to have a budding friendship, sparked during their 2018 royal tour of New Zealand.
Meghan was pregnant at the time of the tour and Miss Ardern later shared that she was impressed with her stamina.
She said that year, “Pregnancy is often an exhausting time, but the way she gave it her all was incredible. She’s a wonderful woman and I’m so glad I got to know her.’
Meanwhile, a biography of the Sussexes, Finding Freedom, claimed that Ms Ardern had sent a flower arrangement to Meghan after the birth of her son Archie.