US3 min(s) read
Published 11:27 30 Apr 2026 GMT
A video of Zohran Mamdani's interaction with King Charles III has surfaced online.
The 34-year-old New York City Mayor met the monarch at the National 9/11 Memorial during a wreath-laying ceremony.
The moment came hours after Mamdani revealed what he would say to the 77-year-old in a press conference.
Mamdani revealed that he would "encourage" King Charles to "return the Kohinoor diamond," The Independent reported.
The 105.6-carat diamond, originally from India, is set into a royal crown on display in the Tower of London.
Acquired by the British after the 1849 Treaty of Lahore following the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the diamond has remained a symbol of colonial plunder and is claimed by India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
The issue of the diamond's return has long been a topic of debate, with many in India seeing it as an important cultural artifact taken during the British colonial era.
Later at the wreath-laying ceremony, Mamdani and the King were seen shaking hands and exchanging a brief, friendly conversation.
It is unclear whether the mayor brought up the Koh-i-Noor issue during their personal interaction, as his office has not confirmed this.
Buckingham Palace has also not commented on the exchange.
Mamdani’s comments about the Koh-i-Noor diamond received mixed reactions online.
Many praised the mayor for raising the issue, with one X user commenting: "Become First Indian origin African born Mayor of NYC. Immediately asks for colonial loot to be returned to its rightful owners. Very based."
Another suggested that he was "more Indian than half of Indian Twitter."
However, not everyone was pleased, as critics argued that the mayor should focus on issues affecting New Yorkers.
One critic, Zeba Zoariah, expressed frustration with him speaking on behalf of India, stating: "Kohinoor for us is a reminder of how power moved, and wealth was taken."
"Urging the Crown in a New York room may sound bold for ur crowd, but we get ur act. Stop speaking on behalf of us. We’ve lived this history we can tell when it’s being performed," they added.
Meanwhile, Amanda Foreman, a royal contributor, noted that King Charles "has no more power to return the diamond than he has to return Buckingham Palace".
The meeting occurred as part of King Charles’ four-day trip to mark 250 years of American independence, which is his first state visit to the US since becoming king.
During his visit, Charles engaged in a range of diplomatic activities, including attending a state dinner with President Donald Trump, where he presented him with a brass bell from H.M.S. Trump, a World War II submarine.
The surprising gift, rich in wartime history, symbolized the long-standing relationship between the UK and the US.
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