King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City during their U.S. state visit, where they were welcomed by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg and current Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Although Mamdani attended the wreath-laying ceremony and briefly greeted King Charles, he refused a private meeting. His reason was tied to the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, saying he would have urged the King to return it. The historic 106-carat diamond, now part of the British Crown Jewels, has long faced criticism over claims it was unfairly taken during British rule in India. Mamdani’s decision drew backlash from critics, including the NY Post, which called his actions inappropriate and overly performative.
