King Charles shows concern for victims
Deep in grief, King Charles III took time to ask after the victims of the last month’s Nelson-Tasman flood.
Two days after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, New Zealand’s top diplomat in Britain had an audience with the King to offer the nation’s condolences.
He responded by asking acting High Commissioner Shannon Austin how New Zealanders were doing in the wake of the devastating storm and the Omicron outbreak.
‘‘We have to keep reminding ourselves that he has lost his mum but is also happy to do all this duty, which must be really tough,’’ she said.
Austin has been in the job for a week, after the departure of Bede Corry. His replacement is yet to be announced.
It was a ‘‘busy and momentous’’ but sad time – and came with enormous pressure.
‘‘It is an incredible honour to have these responsibilities and I feel very humbled,’’ she said.
She added: ‘‘I am very aware of the privilege and the honour and determined to do my best for New Zealand, but it is quite nerveracking and stressful . . . it goes with the job.’’
She offered condolences on behalf of Kiwis to the King and Camilla, Queen Consort, at the Accession Council at Buckingham Palace, one of 14 commissioners of the realm invited to meet with the King.
The royal couple ‘‘really appreciated’’ the well-wishes, she said.
‘‘We spoke a little bit about his numerous trips to New Zealand and those of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of which they have very fond memories, and then he asked how New Zealanders were doing.
‘‘He was aware we have had a bit of an Omicron wave and some severe flooding, so he just asked how New Zealanders were feeling after all of that.’’
Austin said the Accession Council – the formal ceremony where King Charles was formally