King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to embark on a whirlwind tour of New York City this Wednesday, marking their first visit to the city’s five boroughs in nearly two decades. Their itinerary promises a blend of solemnity and engagement with the community, including a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in downtown Manhattan, a stop at the New York Public Library in Midtown, and time spent at a community center in Harlem. This visit follows shortly after their recent trip to Washington, D.C.
The couple’s return to New York City comes after a long hiatus, as they haven’t set foot in the city for almost 20 years. Their visit is a part of a broader journey that aims to strengthen ties and pay homage to significant sites across America.
This trip also invites reflection on past royal visits to New York. The most recent was undertaken by Prince Charles’ eldest son and daughter-in-law. In December 2014, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate, visited the Big Apple. Their itinerary was packed, even as Kate was five months pregnant with Princess Charlotte at the time.
Here’s a look back on recent trips by the royal family to Gotham.
Prince William and Princess Kate in 2014
Prince Charles’ eldest son and daughter-in-law made the most recent royal visit to the Big Apple on behalf of the Crown.
Then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the pair had a jam-packed December 2014 trip — while Kate was five months pregnant with Princess Charlotte.
The young couple sat courtside at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with New York City music royalty Beyonce and Jay-Z to watch the NBA’s Nets lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Earlier in the day, the couple split so that Kate could join then-Big Apple First Lady Chirlane McCray on a visit to a Harlem Children’s Center, while William chatted with President Barack Obama in Midtown.
The pair also stopped by the 9/11 memorial and capped off the trip with an appearance at the annual Met Gala in Manhattan.
Queen Elizabeth in 2010
The longest-reigning UK monarch also was England’s last head of state to visit the Big Apple.
She made her final pilgrimage during the early July heat wave of 2007 — when she battled sweltering 103-degree temperatures to lay flowers at Ground Zero.
The queen’s visit closely mimicked the one her son is making to the memorial 16 years later. Elizabeth was joined at the time by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Gov. David Paterson.
While at the hallowed ground, she shook hands with the families of the first responders who lost their loved ones in the terror attack.
Earlier that day, Queen Elizabeth spoke in front of the United Nations and addressed its General Assembly for the first time since her first appearance there 53 years earlier.
“When people in 53 years from now look back on us, they will doubtless view many of our practices as old-fashioned,” she said at the time. “But it is my hope that, when judged by future generations, our willingness to take a lead … will stand the test of time.”
King Charles in 2007
Charles and Camilla haven’t been to the five boroughs since their January 2007 visit, which came two years after the pair tied the knot.
The couple visited the Promise Academy charter school in Harlem, where they watched a rehearsal for school play and Charles even sank a free throw on the basketball court.
Princess Diana in 1997
The People’s Princess made a major splash during her June 1997 visit to the Big Apple — which tragically served as her last and came just two months before she died in a catastrophic car crash.
Princess Diana — who at the time was no longer considered an active “Royal Highness” after her high-profile split with Charles — made a visit to a Bronx mission where she spent 40 minutes walking hand-in-hand with Mother Teresa and discussing charity work.
Days later, Diana attended a gala party to launch her 1997 Christie’s dress auction — which raised millions of dollars to benefit her charitable endeavors, including support for cancer and AIDS patients.
