Māori Queen Te Arikinui Meets Prince William in First Overseas Trip Since Coronation

New Zealand's Māori Queen Te Arikinui met Prince William at Windsor Castle on Tuesday in her first audience with the British monarch since her coronation in 2024 following the death of her father, Kiingi Tuheitia.

The visit highlights a nearly 200-year relationship between New Zealand's indigenous peoples and the British crown, formalized in the Treaty of Waitangi, one of the country's founding documents.

A spokesperson for the queen said the two discussed the former king's death in a heartfelt conversation, along with ways to strengthen their relationship.

Prince William acknowledged the meeting in an Instagram post, writing, "It was a pleasure to meet with the Queen."

A Kīngitanga statement released after the meeting said Te Arikinui covered a range of global topics with the prince. "Te Arikinui affirmed her belief in the power of indigenous knowledge and intergenerational stewardship to help solve the world's environmental and social challenges," it said.

Te Arikinui was crowned in 2024 after her father's death, becoming only the second Māori queen. Her grandmother, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu, was the first.

The Māori monarchy dates to the 19th century, when different Māori tribes created a unifying figure modeled on a European monarch. They aimed to prevent widespread land losses to New Zealand's British colonizers and to preserve Māori culture. The role remains largely ceremonial.