Zohran Mamdani made headlines by urging King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India, just hours before their scheduled meeting in New York City.
During a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Wednesday, Mamdani exchanged handshakes with King Charles III.
When reporters inquired about his message to the king, the democratic socialist mayor expressed his intention to request the return of the iconic British Crown Jewel.
“If I had the opportunity to speak to the king outside of the ceremony, I would likely suggest he consider returning the Koh-i-Noor Diamond,” Mamdani remarked.
He made these comments during an unrelated press conference held shortly before his meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
The ceremony is a segment of the royal couple’s four-day visit to the US, aimed at paying tribute to the 3,000 New Yorkers who perished in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The British monarch has not visited the US in almost 20 years.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond has been a point of contention between India and England for centuries. The Asian country claimed it was found in the Andhra Pradesh region.
Mamdani shook hands with King Charles III just hours after demanding he return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India
The Koh-i-Noor diamond was acquired by Britain in the mid-1800s
It is a 105.6 carat diamond is currently set in the Crown of the Queen Mother, after ending up in the royal family’s collection in the 1800s.
The infamous gem is on display at the Tower of London. Critics have said that Koh-i-Noor is a ‘symbol of conquest’ over the Indian people, per the New York Post.
Mamdani’s mother was born in India before she moved to the US for college. The country was under British rule between 1858 and 1947.
It could be because of this that the mayor appeared to take a frosty approach to the royal visit, Politico reported, much in opposition to President Trump’s meeting with the king.
When asked directly again about what he may discuss with King Charles, Mamdani omitted his name altogether.
‘I’ll be attending a wreath laying alongside other elected officials, including Governor Hochul, Governor Sherrill, and the focus of that wreath laying is to honor the more than 3,000 New Yorkers who were killed in the horrific terror attacks of September 11,’ he said.
‘And that is really what I’m looking to do at that event.’
King Charles III and Queen Camilla laid a bouquet of white flowers at the 9/11 memorial
Mamdani appeared to have a slightly frostier approach to meeting the king than President Trump before him
Despite Mamdani’s cold shoulder, the men were seen talking and smiling at the wreath-laying event on Wednesday.
It is unclear what they discussed and whether Mamdani truly demanded the king return the precious jewel.
King Charles and Queen Camilla laid a bouquet of White Roses on the memorial, which was erected in 2014.
The couple also met with the families of the terror attack’s victims.
Their visit marks the first by a British monarch since the monument opened.
During his address to Congress on Tuesday, the king mentioned the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11.
‘This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,’ he said.
The couple also met withe the families of 9/11 victims while at the wreath laying ceremony
‘During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss,’ he continued.
‘We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten.’
More than 65 British citizens were killed in the attack, reported The Hill.
From the event at Ground Zero, the couple headed uptown to attend separate appearances. Camilla attended a literacy event while Charles met with children in Harlem.
The Daily Mail contacted Buckingham Palace and the Mayor’s Office for comment.
