16 Sep 2022

Jacinda Ardern to meet with King Charles and UK's PM

From Morning Report, 7:10 am on 16 September 2022

The Prime Minister will have an audience with the King, Prince of Wales and British Prime Minister Liz Truss while in the UK attending the Queens Funeral.

Jacinda Ardern, who arrived in London today, will also view the Queen's casket which is lying in State at Westminster Hall over the next three days.

Ms Ardern says will meet with the King on Saturday afternoon London time, 2.45am here in New Zealand. She says at the meeting she will share the sorrow that New Zealand has and pass on our deepest condolences personally.

As for the Prince of Wales. she says he came to New Zealand after the March shooting in our time of need and her meeting will be a time to be there for his family too.

She says the meeting with Liz Truss whist focusing on the Queen would cover issues around things like Ukraine and trade.

Meanwhile Ms Ardern would not be drawn on British media speculation that the King may stage a visit to Australia and New Zealand.

But she says the Royals are always welcome to come to NZ.

She also reiterated her position that Monarchy when asked by media, saying while NZ will be a republic in her life time there was not a sense of urgency from New Zealanders and her government was not pursuing it.

She says there will be a time and place for the debate, but for now it's about remembering the Queen.

Morning Report's Corin Dann spoke to Susie Ferguson from London.