New Zealand ‘has real connection with royal family’
NEW ZEALAND has developed a “real connection” with the royal family and the question of becoming a republic “doesn’t sit at the fore” for Kiwis, the country’s prime minister said.
Jacinda Ardern’s comments came as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex followed in the footsteps of William and Kate as they took in Auckland, the penultimate stop on their 16-day royal tour.
Harry and Meghan faced off in a welly-wanging contest before heading to the Viaduct for a public walkabout where 10-year-old Max Henry added to his royal photo collection.
The royal fan held up laminated pictures of himself meeting the duke and duchess of Cambridge in 2014 which caught the eye of Harry.
Today is the final day of Harry and Meghan’s tour. The mother and father-to-be will head home after visiting Rotorua.
Speaking before a reception at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Ms Ardern said: “There’s a real connection between particularly William and Harry in recent years, so it’s nice to have been able to host them in such close proximity.”
New Zealand, like Australia, is a constitutional monarchy and as such the Queen is their head of state, represented by a governor-general.
When asked if the question of whether the Duke and Duchess’s visit has changed views on New Zealand becoming a republic, Ms Ardern said: “It just really doesn’t come up as much.
“What you’ll pick up from the New Zealand public is that there is a real affinity for the Queen and a real strength of feeling around members of the royal family.”