Former New Zealand Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern has shared the frank seven-word piece of advice Queen Elizabeth II gave her when she was seven months pregnant. The 45-year-old, who became prime minister at 37, was the second democratically elected world leader to give birth while in office. She encountered the late monarch at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.
Queen's Candid Advice
Speaking to the Times, Dame Jacinda recalled asking the Queen how she managed being a monarch while navigating pregnancy and childbirth. The Queen replied resolutely: 'Well, you just get on with it.' Ardern said: 'She was right. What she was saying was there's no big secret to it, you just take every day as it comes. That simple, practical advice was exactly what I needed.'
Shared Experience of Motherhood
Dame Jacinda also reflected on the broader experience of parenthood. Despite her high-profile role, she felt connected to a wider community: 'I was a first-time mum while being prime minister. I had this particularly high-profile role, but I didn't feel special or unique. I felt like I was part of this very large club of women trying to make it work.'
Positive Public Response
When she revealed her pregnancy in January 2018, Ardern braced for criticism but instead received an outpouring of support, including a baby blanket with 24 squares. She wrote in the Guardian: 'I had braced for the worst. I was a public figure, used to judgment and scrutiny. Now I was pregnant and unwed. I was also new to the job. If people wanted to have a go at me, they had plenty of reason to. But I hadn't considered a fundamental truth: that politicians are humans first, and perhaps the public hadn't lost sight of that.'
