Prince William meets with Māori Queen at Windsor Castle

Ngā wai Hono i te pō holds the distinction of being only the eighth monarch in the history of the Māori kingship and just the second woman to occupy the throne

Ngā wai Hono i te pō, the Māori Queen, is currently in London for a series of engagements.

This morning, she held a meeting with Prince William at Windsor Castle, following her attendance at the King’s Trust 50th anniversary celebration the previous evening.

“Whether at home or on the world stage, Te Arikinui’s leadership is about creating pathways for our people, particularly our rangathi [Māori youth] to thrive,” said Rahui Papa, spokesperson for the Kiingitanga, the Māori monarchy.

Te Arikinui, meaning Paramount Chief, is the Queen’s formal title.

Ngā wai Hono i te pō, the Māori Queen, is currently in London for a series of engagements.

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Four young Māori entrepreneurs from Aotearoa are taking part in the anniversary festivities.

They attended celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday and will join a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

The King’s Trust, now marking half a century of operation, focuses on supporting young people as they transition from education into the workforce.

According to the Kiingitanga, the participating rangatahi have built enterprises that generate employment and create opportunities for whānau, their extended families, and wider communities across New Zealand.

Ngā wai Hono i te pō holds the distinction of being only the eighth monarch in the history of the Māori kingship and just the second woman to occupy the throne.

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Ngā wai Hono i te pō holds the distinction of being only the eighth monarch in the history of the Māori kingship and just the second woman to occupy the throne.

She is the sole daughter and youngest offspring of the late Māori king Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

The Queen previously visited the British capital in June 2022, when she met King Charles to foster closer relations between the two royal houses.

During that trip, she spoke candidly about her aspirations: “I’ll be honest, my greatest desire of all is for all Māori land to be returned to Māori.”