Ardern takes her place among leaders
The Queen has formally opened what is likely to be her last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and could be the last headed by a royal.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took her place among 51 of the 53 member states, at the poignant opening ceremony at Buckingham Palace. British Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a statement that honoured Queen Elizabeth II’s dedication to the Commonwealth during her 66-year reign. The Queen, who is 91, no longer travels as much and it is only that this year’s summit was being held in London that she was able to attend.
‘‘I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to Your Majesty Head of the Commonwealth,’’ May said.
‘‘Over many years you have been the Commonwealth’s most steadfast and fervent champion.
‘‘You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth – that the voice of the smallest member country is worth precisely as much as that of the largest,’’ May said.
The Queen has led the Commonwealth since she took the throne in February 1952.
Her son the Prince of Wales Prince Charles gave the formal welcome address to open the Commonwealth meeting.
And to declare the summit officially open, the Queen spoke of the Commonwealth’s history and the work Prince Charles would carry on to reinforce the network of countries.
‘‘Here in Buckingham Palace in 1949 my father met the heads of Government when they ratified the London Declaration, which created the Commonwealth as we know it today.
‘‘Then comprising just eight nations. Who then, or in 1952 when I became Head of the Commonwealth, would have guessed that a gathering of a number of states that would one day number 53, or that would comprise 2.4 billion people,’’ she said.
But it did not mean the role of Head of the Commonwealth need necessarily go to Prince Charles when he is made king. Leaders would be making a decision on that overnight (NZ time).
While it was likely the role would remain with the Crown, a range of options were on the table, including having the role skip a generation and pass straight to third in line Prince William or a rotational system whereby country leaders take turns at heading the Commonwealth.
That would be similar to how the chair of the Commonwealth is chosen. Ardern said it was New Zealand’s preference for the Head of the Commonwealth to remain the monarch. ‘‘I’m not sure if it will be conducted as a vote or how exactly at the leaders’ retreat, it will be dealt with.
‘‘But we hold a very clear view that the head of the Commonwealth should follow the Crown.
‘‘It makes sense and I haven’t been deterred from that view and I think New Zealanders should be of the view that that should be the natural succession.
‘‘It was started by the monarch and I think it would be disruptive to the governance of the Commonwealth to create an alternative regime. It’s served us well until now, and I cannot see why it wouldn’t continue to serve us well,’’ Ardern said.
Private audience
Ardern also met the Queen as one of the four of 19 new Commonwealth leaders granted a private audience. Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford were hosted at Buckingham Palace.
Ardern would not comment in detail about what she discussed with the Queen – to do so would be ‘‘a break in protocol’’ – but said she felt ‘‘exceptionally lucky’’ to have had her time with the monarch.
Ardern gave the Queen a gift – one that a member of the public had sent into her office just a couple of weeks ago, as well some New Zealand food items.
‘‘It was a photo that was taken by a woman who is now in her late 70s, but at the age of 14 took a photo of the Queen as she travelled through New Zealand in the early 1950s. She was a student of Queen Margaret’s College and she had a little camera and took a beautiful shot.’’ Ardern would not say if her pregnancy was discussed but said it was on her mind before she went into her discussion. ‘‘Here is a remarkable leader who has conducted her life in the full view of the public and that has included raising her children, and there’s something to be admired in that.’’
Special honour
Ardern also attended the state banquet at Buckingham Palace – the welcome dinner hosted by the Queen in the palace picture gallery. Ardern was also one of only two Commonwealth leaders to be given a special honour at the dinner of making a toast.
Ardern had been asked by the palace to make a toast to the Commonwealth, while Ghana would be toasting the Queen. Ardern would be doing so draped in a korowai from London-based Ngati Ranana and a specially designed maternity dress by Juliette Hogan.
‘‘I very thankfully have a friend in Juliette Hogan and she’s made a dress that will accommodate my front pack.’’