Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te pō has met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace during an official visit to London, marking the first meeting between the Māori Queen and the British monarch since her ascension to the Kīngitanga.
The meeting took place on Thursday afternoon London time and follows a series of engagements undertaken by Te Arikinui during her visit to the United Kingdom.
The Kīngitanga says Te Arikinui remains focused on strengthening relationships between peoples as Aotearoa New Zealand moves closer toward the 200-year anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 2040.
The Buckingham Palace engagement is being viewed as symbolically significant, reflecting ongoing discussions around the Crown, Te Tiriti relationships, and the role of Māori leadership on the international stage.
Te Arikinui succeeded the late Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII and has continued to represent the aspirations and unity of the Kīngitanga movement both nationally and internationally.
The London visit has included a number of meetings and official engagements aimed at strengthening cultural and diplomatic connections.
