New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would ask King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during the monarch's U.S. visit [1].
The request brings renewed international attention to a long-standing dispute over colonial-era acquisitions and the repatriation of cultural artifacts. Because the diamond remains one of the most contested objects in the British Crown Jewels, the mayor's comments highlight the ongoing tension between former colonial powers and the nations from which these items were taken.
Mamdani said the comments on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 [2], during a 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York City [1]. The remarks came hours before a scheduled meeting between the mayor and the king [3].
"I would ask King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond," Mamdani said in a video interview [1]. In a separate statement, he said, "If I was to speak to the king … I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond" [4].
The diamond has been in the possession of the United Kingdom for more than 170 years [5]. Mamdani's appeal was intended to emphasize the controversial nature of how the gem was acquired during the colonial era, and to urge the British monarch to return it to its place of origin [6].
Reports differ on whether the mayor raised the issue during his actual encounter with the king. The BBC said that while Mamdani made the comments before the meeting, it remained unclear if the diamond was discussed [3]. However, Yahoo News said that Mamdani touched on the ownership of the gem ahead of the meeting, implying the topic was raised [4].
“"I would ask King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond."”
This incident reflects a growing trend of local and national leaders using diplomatic visits to pressure the British monarchy on the issue of repatriation. By framing the Koh-i-Noor diamond as a symbol of colonial acquisition, Mamdani is aligning New York City's public discourse with a broader global movement to return looted artifacts to their countries of origin.
