King Charles III and Queen Camilla met New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in Lower Manhattan on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 [3].
The encounter occurred amid a broader U.S. tour by the British monarch and follows public demands from the mayor for the Crown to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
The 77-year-old King and the Queen shook hands and exchanged a brief conversation during the event [1]. The interaction took place at the site of remembrance in Manhattan, where the royal couple was greeted by the 34-year-old mayor [1].
"I'm delighted to meet Mayor Mamdani and to visit this place of remembrance," King Charles III said [3].
Queen Camilla emphasized the diplomatic nature of the visit. "We look forward to strengthening the friendship between the United Kingdom and New York City," she said [4].
Despite the cordial greeting, the meeting carried political undertones. Mayor Mamdani had previously made a public call for the restitution of the Koh-i-Noor diamond to its country of origin. "I think it's time for the Crown to return the Koh-i-Noor," Mamdani said [2].
Reports on the nature of the interaction varied. While some sources noted that Mamdani greeted the royal couple with a smile and a handshake, others indicated there was no private meeting held between the mayor and the monarch [4].
The visit to the 9/11 Memorial served as a focal point of the King's itinerary in New York City, highlighting the shared history and ties between the U.S. and the U.K. [3].
“"I think it's time for the Crown to return the Koh-i-Noor," Mamdani said.”
The meeting juxtaposes traditional royal diplomacy with modern political activism regarding colonial-era artifacts. By greeting the monarch shortly after calling for the return of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, Mayor Mamdani utilized a high-profile state visit to keep the issue of repatriation in the public eye, while the royal couple maintained a focus on the symbolic and diplomatic ties between the UK and New York City.
