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

5/2/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly urged King Charles III on April 29 2026 at the 9/11 memorial to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during the monarch’s U.S. visit.
The 105-carat Koh-i-Noor, set in Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s crown, entered the British Crown Jewels after being presented to Queen Victoria in 1850.
Buckingham Palace and Mamdani’s office declined to comment on whether the mayor raised the issue during their handshake.

History

Historical Context

In 1849 Britain annexed the Punjab and gave the Koh-i-Noor to Queen Victoria, where it now sits in the Crown of the Queen Mother. After independence, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru asked Britain to return the gem in 1947, a request denied. On 29 April 2026 Mayor Zohran Mamdani appealed to King Charles III, echoing Nehru’s claim and reviving debate over colonial-era restitutions.

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Story summary

Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly urged King Charles III on April 29 2026 at the 9/11 memorial to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond during the monarch’s U.S. visit.
The 105-carat Koh-i-Noor, set in Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s crown, entered the British Crown Jewels after being presented to Queen Victoria in 1850.
Buckingham Palace and Mamdani’s office declined to comment on whether the mayor raised the issue during their handshake.

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