The Duchess of Sussex met privately with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand at Kensington Palace on Monday, it was revealed on Twitter.
Royal reporter Omid Scobie revealed on Twitter that Meghan had met with Ardern, tweeting that Meghan “was pleased to have the chance to thank the PM for the wonderful hospitality [she and Harry] received from the people of New Zealand last year.”
The Prime Minister reportedly told Scobie that “the Duke and Duchess are both very warm people… they really care about the work they do, they take their service seriously and I have a lot of respect for that.”
As it was a private meeting, there were no photographs taken and shared.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand on day thirteen of their Royal Tour in October 2018. Picture by i-Images / Pool
During their Oceania tour last fall, Harry and Meghan attended several events with Ardern, including receptions and a walkabout to meet the public.
At a reception to honour young people who make a difference in their communities last October in Auckland, Ardern told the guests that “You might think you’re here to meet them, but they’re here to meet you.
“We have a spirit here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, that’s hard to capture, but I see it here in you, our young people.”
At the time, Meghan had only recently announced her pregnancy, but Ardern, who’d delivered a baby girl months before their visit, told reporters that she wouldn’t be offering Meghan any advice or tips on pregnancy, just that it had “increased my respect for the role that she’s playing at such an often tiring time. I have real empathy and I think she’s incredible.”
Ardern has had a very royal week: following her early Monday meeting with Meghan at Kensington Palace, she travelled to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, where she met with the Duke of Cambridge.
Tomorrow, she and Prince William will take part in a round-table discussion on mental health.
