New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has indicated that any potential meeting with King Charles III would not follow routine diplomatic pleasantries, as he brought attention to the long-standing debate over the Kohinoor diamond.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mamdani was asked what message he would give the British monarch. Instead of offering a conventional response, he pointed to the historic diamond, which remains a sensitive symbol of Britain's colonial past.
Mamdani said, "If I were to speak to the King separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Kohinoor diamond," referring to a possible interaction during the wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 memorial in New York.
The remarks have drawn attention due to the political and historical weight attached to the diamond, which India considers a culturally significant artefact taken during the colonial era.
Mamdani also has personal ties to South Asia and Africa. His mother, Mira Nair, was born in India and later moved to the United States for higher studies. She also spent part of her life in Uganda with Mamdani's father, Mahmood Mamdani.
Meanwhile, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are in New York City, where they are scheduled to visit the One World Trade Center. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, in which nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, including 67 British citizens. Mamdani is expected to attend the memorial event.
Zohran Mamdani: If I was to speak with King Charles separately from today's event, I'd probably encourage him to return the Kohinoor Diamond
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) April 29, 2026
Bro really looks like he’s on a secret mission as an Indian spy agent pic.twitter.com/L3FbFgnYhF
The long-standing Kohinoor debate
The Kohinoor diamond, whose name means "Mountain of Light", has long been at the centre of historical debate. It was originally mined in India's Kollur region and once weighed 186 carats before being recut. Over centuries, it passed through several Indian dynasties, including the Mughals and Sikhs.
In 1849, after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British East India Company took possession of the diamond following the Treaty of Lahore, which was signed by the young Maharaja Duleep Singh, then just 10 years old.
Today, the 105.6-carat diamond is part of the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and is kept at the Tower of London.
