New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would ask King Charles III to return the Kohinoor diamond to India during a private conversation.

The request highlights a long-standing international dispute over colonial-era acquisitions. India maintains that the diamond was taken during British colonial rule and should be returned as a matter of cultural heritage, and justice.

Mamdani made the comments on May 8, 2024 [2], during a ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. The event took place during a three-day visit to the U.S. by the British monarch [1].

"If I get a chance to speak with His Majesty privately, I will ask him to return the Kohinoor to India," Mamdani said.

The Mayor said the conversation would focus on the diamond's rightful home. "We will ask the King to consider returning this priceless diamond to its rightful home in India," Mamdani said.

While the Mayor expressed a desire to address the issue, he noted the specific conditions required for the request. "I will raise the issue of the Kohinoor with King Charles during his visit to New York," Mamdani said.

The Kohinoor remains one of the most contested artifacts in the world. The diamond is currently part of the British Crown Jewels, while the Indian government has repeatedly called for its repatriation over several decades.

“"If I get a chance to speak with His Majesty privately, I will ask him to return the Kohinoor to India."”

This interaction represents a diplomatic push by a high-ranking U.S. official to support India's repatriation claims. By utilizing a high-profile event like the 9/11 Memorial visit, Mamdani elevates a bilateral dispute between the UK and India into a broader international conversation about colonial restitution and the ethics of museum ownership.