Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married her partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony today, Saturday, after a long-term relationship. They finally tied the knot after previous wedding plans were canceled due to strict restrictions imposed by the country to control the spread of COVID-19. Official photos showed Ardern smiling in a white dress, while Gayford wore a black suit. The news website Stuff reported that they were married in front of 50 to 75 guests. The New Zealand Herald mentioned that among the guests was Chris Hipkins, who succeeded Ardern before becoming the current leader of the opposition.
Over the past six months, Ardern has received three fellowships at Harvard University. Ardern, 43, and Gayford, 47, announced their engagement in May 2019, and they were originally set to marry in early 2022. However, their wedding was postponed due to her approach in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in New Zealand experiencing a low death rate. Ardern became a global symbol of left-leaning politics and female leadership, serving as Prime Minister from 2017 until January of last year. She famously took her daughter to a United Nations meeting, being one of only two women to give birth while serving as leaders of their countries.
