Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will meet with members of the Royal Family, including King Charles III, prior to Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday.
The New Zealand leader touched down in London late on Thursday and confirmed to media on Friday morning (NZ time) she would speak face-to-face with Prince William as well as the new monarch before Monday's event. Ardern will also have her first meeting with new British Prime Minister Liz Truss.
The details are still being worked through, but Ardern's meeting with King Charles is expected to be alongside other Realm nations. However, she expects she will have time to personally give New Zealand's condolences.
"In that first opportunity to see the King face-to-face, I will simply share the sorrow New Zealand has and pass on our deepest condolences," Ardern said.
"At the end of the day, while this is a period of transition for him, he has also lost his beloved mother. I think for us, and for New Zealand, that is first and foremost for us."
The King has already met with New Zealand's acting High Commissioner in the UK Shannon Austin, who said he asked how Kiwis were going in the aftermath of the Omicron outbreak here as well as recent flooding.
"We spoke a little bit about his numerous trips to New Zealand and those of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of which they have very fond memories, and then he asked how New Zealanders were doing," Austin said.
"He was aware we have had a bit of an Omicron wave and some severe flooding, so he just asked how New Zealanders were feeling after all of that."
Ardern said King Charles has always had a "deep knowledge and interest in New Zealand".
"I have no doubt that that will only continue."
The Prime Minister said Prince William had been with New Zealand through times of grief - including visiting Aotearoa in the aftermath of the March 15 attacks - so this was our time to be there for him.
She will pay her respects while the Queen lies in state.
"That appears to be a deeply moving process for those who are gathering for many, many hours in order to pay their respects," Ardern said.
"Personally, I feel very humbled at the opportunity to be here on behalf of New Zealand, to be a part of what is a very sad, but very historic occasion here and so I feel a great weight of responsibility being here for New Zealanders."
Queen Elizabeth's funeral will be held on Monday night (NZT). Following the event, Ardern will travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly week.
Watch Ardern's full comments to the media above.
