New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a prized gem taken from the Indian subcontinent by the British Empire in the 19th century. The request came on the third day of the monarch's state visit to the United States, on Wednesday.
Before greeting the king and Queen Camilla at a memorial event for the September 11 attacks, Mamdani was asked what he would discuss with Charles if given the opportunity. The leftist mayor stated, "If I was to speak to the king, separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond." He added that his primary focus would be honoring the victims of the terror attacks.
It remains unclear whether Mamdani actually raised the contentious issue during their brief encounter. The king was seen laughing and engaging in a short conversation with the mayor after shaking hands.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond's Controversial History
The massive 106-carat stone, currently housed in the Tower of London, is a centerpiece of Britain's crown jewels and adorns the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Its ownership has been fiercely contested over centuries, passing through the hands of Mughal emperors, Iranian shahs, and Sikh maharajas before the Kingdom of Punjab ceded it to Queen Victoria in 1849 as part of a peace treaty.
India has repeatedly and unsuccessfully sought the return of the priceless jewel. While it is widely believed to have been mined in India, its subsequent history blends myth and fact, with several nations including Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan also laying claim to the gem.
Political Reactions
The mayor's comments drew sharp criticism from a politician of the anti-immigration Reform UK party. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, posted on X: "This beautiful diamond is currently on display in the Tower of London. That is where it will stay." He described Mamdani's remarks as "an insult to our King."
The incident has reignited debate over the repatriation of cultural artifacts taken during colonial times, with the Koh-i-Noor remaining one of the most symbolically charged items in the British crown jewels.
