The former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, has revealed what Prince William is like “behind the scenes”.
Ardern, who served in her role as prime minister from 2017 to 2023, met the Prince of Wales in 2019, where they appeared together on a panel about mental health in Davos.
Arden revealed that William asked her about an ambitious idea to create an environmental award that later turned into the Earthshot Prize, which was launched in 2020.
The former Prime Minister told the Times that the royal was “genuinely seeking opinions”.
The former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, has revealed what Prince William is like ‘behind the scenes’
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Speaking of Prince William in “real life”, Arden said: “I would say he’s exactly the same person. The areas that he’s interested in and that he works in, he’s very genuinely motivated by.”
She recalled the prince asking her: “What do you think of this idea? Do you think it would be beneficial? Do you think it would make a difference?
“To have that humility to think, I have an idea, but I want to test it with other people and I want to see if there’s a genuine place for it.
“And, once he established that, to ask other people to join the mission knowing that his capacity might be limited.
Jacinda Ardern served in her role as prime minister from 2017 to 2023
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She added: “So who can help him? Who can join in? [It’s] a very collaborative way of working. There is a humility there, which is an extraordinary thing when you’re born into a role of this nature.”
“He has a very collaborative way of working. There is humility there”
Ardern spoke on the privacy and service of the royal to Britain and the Commonwealth.
She said: “Where I experience a version of public life is when I’m in New Zealand. Where Prince William experiences public life, it’s global and it’s 24/7 and there is no reprieve.
Prince William continues to serve as president of the Earthshot Prize.
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The former prime minister of New Zealand said: “There is no end point to [his] term of service. But even that small insight gave me an idea of what it might be like for him and his family.
“I don’t think that should preclude someone from being able to experience a level of privacy.”
The Prince of Wales continues to serve as president of the Earthshot Prize.
