04 April 2023 , 09:50
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Prince William has handed a former Prime Minister a key new role on one of his biggest projects.
It has been revealed that Jacinda Ardern, who stepped down as Prime Minister of New Zealand in January, has joined the board of trustees on his prestigious Earthshot Prize.
The prize, which was established by William, encourages people and companies to come up with solutions to help repair the planet from climate change.
The new appointment comes just months after the former leader distanced herself from William's estranged brother Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their Netflix series, Live to Lead, which she appeared in.
Prince William with ex-New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, who has been appointed to the board of trustees as William's Earthshot Prize (PA)Announcing Ardern's new role, the Earthshot Prize tweeted: "We're delighted to welcome @JacindaArdern to The Earthshot Prize Board of Trustees.
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Her lifelong commitment to sustainable development & climate action align powerfully with our ambition to protect and restore our planet by 2030.
"We're honoured she joins us in this new role!"
Last December, Harry and Meghan's Netflix show Live to Lead was released, which the Sussexes presented.
One episode featured an interview with Ardern, who the couple had met on previous occasions.
William gives Ardern a traditional Maori welcome during a trip to Auckland in 2019 (AFP/Getty Images)However, the former PM distanced herself from the couple by putting out a statement explaining how her interview in the show was conducted in 2019 - two and a half years before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex got involved.
The show had been produced in a collaboration between the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Blackwell & Ruth as well as Harry and Meghan's Archewell Productions.
Interviews in the series include Ms Ardern, the late US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the feminist activist Gloria Steinem, the climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and US basketball star Stephen Curry.
Ardern with Harry and Meghan in 2018 (Getty Images)Following the announcement of Harry and Meghan's role in the series, Ms Ardern's office issued a statement clarifying they joined production at a later stage.
It read: "In May this year, the prime minister’s office was notified that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would introduce the series; noting this was nearly two and a half years after the interview had been recorded and permission for its use by the Mandela Foundation had already been provided.
"All communication throughout has been with the foundation (there has been no communications with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex regarding the project)."
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The former PM announced her resignation in January (Getty Images)In January, Ardern shocked the worlf when she announced she was resigning as New Zealand's PM in an emotional address.
Holding back tears, she said: "I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple
“I am human, politicians are human. We give all that we can for as long as we can. And then it’s time. And for me, it’s time,"
She added that she had taken the decision after months of deliberation, and hoped to spend more time with her family.
After William and wife Kate took to social media to send her a personal message.
Signed off by 'W & C', it said: "Thank you Jacinda Ardern for your friendship, leadership and support over the years, not least at the time of my grandmother's death. Sending you, Clarke and Neve our best wishes."
At age 37 she became the youngest female head of government in the world, and gave birth to a child the year after - making her the second elected head of government to do so.