Prince William welcomed New Zealand’s Māori monarch, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, to Windsor Castle on Tuesday for their first official meeting since she became Queen.
The private audience marked an important moment in relations between the Prince of Wales and the Kiingitanga movement, the Māori King movement in New Zealand. Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po ascended to the role 19 months ago following the death of her father, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, who was widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most respected Indigenous leaders.
William received Her Majesty at Windsor Castle, where the pair are believed to have discussed shared interests, including community leadership, cultural connection and opportunities for young people. The meeting reflected the continuing relationship between the Royal Family and Māori leadership, as well as the importance of cultural dialogue within the wider Commonwealth.
Shortly after the audience, the official social media account of the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photograph from the meeting. The image showed a warm moment between William and the Māori Queen, accompanied by a message from Kensington Palace.
“A pleasure to meet with Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po today at Windsor Castle.”
The meeting was the first formal engagement between William and Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po since she was chosen by tribal leaders in 2024 to succeed her late father. Her selection made her only the second Queen in the history of the Kiingitanga movement.
The Māori Queen’s rise to the role followed a period of mourning for Kiingi Tuheitia, whose leadership was deeply significant for many Māori communities. His death marked the end of an influential reign, and his daughter’s appointment represented both continuity and a new chapter for the movement.
As head of the Kiingitanga, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po holds a symbolic and cultural position rather than a constitutional one. The movement continues to play an important role in Māori unity, identity and advocacy in New Zealand.
William’s meeting with the Māori Queen comes as the Prince of Wales continues to take on a broader public role in representing the monarchy at home and abroad. The Windsor Castle audience offered an opportunity to strengthen ties and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous leadership, heritage and community-focused work.
The palace did not release detailed remarks from the private meeting, but the public message shared afterward suggested a warm and respectful exchange between the two figures.