Former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has officially received her damehood at an investiture ceremony before Prince William at Windsor Castle.

Under the click of cameras, Ardern took on the title of Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit wearing a traditional Māori kākahu cloak.

After receiving the damehood, Ardern said it was a “huge honour”.

“You know, I feel really humbled by the chance to be here with my family and, really, I see it as an acknowledgement of them and of every person I have worked with and everyone who has supported me.”

She said that group includes a “very large number” of New Zealanders.

Of the royal honour, Ardern told the Press Association news agency she was “incredibly honoured and very humbled” and that she felt it acknowledged her family, her former colleagues and New Zealanders who gave her the “extraordinary privilege of serving them for five years”.

Jacinda Ardern, wearing a traditional Māori kākahu cloak, poses with her medal and insignia after being appointed a Dame Grand Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit at Windsor Castle. Photo / AFP 

Regarding her work since leaving office, Ardern said she had been supporting conservationism in marine environments and Antarctica, writing a book, teaching and “supporting others who want to practise empathetic leadership”.

“But I would sum it up with sort of just trying to spread a little kindness in the world,” she added.

Ardern said in 2021 when Prime Minister that she thought Kiwis would ditch the monarchy and become a republic in the next few years, but added that she “never sensed urgency” from people in New Zealand to make it happen.

“I’ve been very clear that despite being a republican, I’m not of the view that in the here-and-now in my term of office, that this is something New Zealanders feel particularly strongly about.”

Ardern was granted the title last year in the King’s Birthday Honours. However, she said travel commitments had meant she hadn’t been able to make it to an investiture ceremony on home soil.

“Being away from home means I haven’t been able to take part in one yet,” she said of the ceremony.

“It looked like that would be the case again this year, when in the margins of an Earthshot meeting the possibility of having the ceremony in the UK was raised with me.”

Having been “lucky” to get to know and work with Prince William over the years, she accepted the Windsor Castle investiture and will also have her family with her, she said.

“But I knew there would be pieces of home I would miss. I am so humbled and thankful that Whaea Esther from Ngāti Ranana will not only join me, but is allowing me to once again share in one of Ngāti Ranana’s kākahu for the ceremony,” Ardern said.

“It will be a really special day – but amongst it all, it will be home that I will be thinking of.”

As New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister, she served from October 2017 to January 2023.

She came to power in a coalition government before, three years later, Labour was able to form a majority government on its own after winning 50% of the vote.

She led the country through the Covid pandemic and the horrific Christchurch mosque attacks and has been taking part in global initiatives to tackle climate change and support emerging leaders.