Story perspectives

Mayor Urges King Charles to Return Koh-i-Noor at 9/11 Visit

4/30/2026

Summary

Story summary

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would privately urge King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during the monarch’s 9/11 anniversary visit.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited One World Trade Center on April 29, 2026 for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined comment on Mamdani’s suggestion.
Royal expert Dr. Amanda Foreman said the Koh-i-Noor belongs to the nation, not personally to the king.

History

Historical Context

After the British East India Company handed the Koh-i-Noor to Queen Victoria on 3 July 1850 following the Punjab annexation, the 191-carat diamond entered the British Crown Jewels. Today, Mayor Zohran Mamdani will ask King Charles III, during his 2026 One World Trade Center visit, to return the stone, reviving decades-long restitution claims from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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Story summary

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would privately urge King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during the monarch’s 9/11 anniversary visit.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited One World Trade Center on April 29, 2026 for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined comment on Mamdani’s suggestion.
Royal expert Dr. Amanda Foreman said the Koh-i-Noor belongs to the nation, not personally to the king.

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