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Australia and New Zealand have held proclamation ceremonies for the new head of state King Charles III, with New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern saying she expected her country’s relationship with the royal family to “deepen”, and Australia declaring a one-off public holiday as a national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II.
New Zealand held its formal ceremony on parliament’s grounds, with the proceedings led by governer general Cindy Kiro and Ardern, beginning with the national anthem and a prayer in te reo Māori – the Indigenous language.
Ardern said she believed New Zealand’s close connection to the royal family would continue and strengthen under the new monarch.
“King Charles has long had an affection for Aotearoa New Zealand and has consistently demonstrated his deep care for our nation.
