King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks during a visit to the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Wednesday. The royal couple laid flowers at the memorial pools and spoke with survivors, first responders, and families of the nearly 3,000 people killed, including 67 British nationals.
Busy Schedule in New York
The visit marked the first time a reigning British monarch has visited New York since Queen Elizabeth II in 2010. Charles and Camilla's day included stops at an urban farm in Harlem, the New York Public Library, and a charity gala. The king also met with business leaders at Rockefeller Center.
At the 9/11 Memorial, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg greeted the couple. Charles placed a floral arrangement on the parapet of one of the memorial pools, and the pair bowed their heads in silence. They then shook hands with victims' relatives, some holding photos of loved ones.
Political Interactions
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were present. Mamdani, a Democrat, shook hands with the king briefly. Earlier, he suggested he would raise the issue of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a gem in the Crown Jewels claimed by several countries, if given the chance.
Victims' Families
Anthoula Katsimatides, whose brother died in the attacks, described hugging the queen as "extremely sweet." She noted the queen asked if she visited often, to which she replied that she finds the memorial a place of peace and remembrance.
Other Engagements
The king visited Harlem Grown, an urban farm, where he planted seeds and interacted with children. He later attended a business leaders' gathering. Queen Camilla visited the New York Public Library, meeting actress Sarah Jessica Parker and donating a Roo doll to the Winnie-the-Pooh collection.
The royal couple capped the day with a gala for the King's Trust, featuring Lionel Richie, Anna Wintour, and Martha Stewart. Charles joked about not hearing Richie sing.
The four-day US trip marks 250 years of American independence and includes stops in Virginia and a farewell at the White House. Charles will then travel solo to Bermuda.
