New York City Mayor Mamdani Encourages Return of Koh-i-Noor Diamond 

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he’d ask privately for King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond in a press conference on Wednesday. 

“If I were to speak to the king separately from that [event], I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond,” said Mamdani, an Indian-American, before a ceremony commemorating 9/11. 

The large jewel was described by India as a “valued piece of art with strong roots in our nation’s history,” according to The Indian Express.  

The Koh-i-Noor diamond came from India’s alluvial mines thousands of years ago, according to Smithsonian Magazine. 

The diamond has been claimed by numerous countries, including India, which claims it was stolen. 

India’s most recent demand for the return of the diamond was in 2016, according to The Independent. 

According to CBS News, former British Prime Minister David Cameron told local media outlets that “if you say yes to one [request], you suddenly find the British Museum would be empty,” in 2010.  

The diamond became a part of the British Crown Jewels in 1849, after the annexation of Punjab, a region covering northwest India and northeast Pakistan. 

Punjab is the 16^th-largest Indian state with over 27 million inhabitants. It was formed on November 1, 1966.  

The diamond has reportedly had multiple previous royal owners in India, Iran and Afghanistan, according to the Historic Royal Palaces.  

Koh-i-Noor is counted as one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, at 105.6 carats. It currently sits on display in the Jewel House in the Tower of London. 

The British monarch attended the 9/11 memorial event in New York City Wednesday, where he shook hands with Mamdani, according to Prime Publishers Inc. 

According to Reuters, King Charles later interacted with the mayor during the event, but both Buckingham Palace and Mamdani’s office did not respond to requests for comment on whether the issue was raised during their conversation. 

The mayor and monarch were seen laughing together after they greeted each other and had a brief conversation, according to Prime Publishers Inc. 

Jewels Not Showcased During King Charles’ Coronation 

Queen Camilla was originally supposed to wear the crown showcasing the Koh-i-noor and multiple other jewels during her husband’s coronation ceremony, according to CBS News. 

The stones have been featured in previous coronations. 

Instead, the queen wore a modified version of Queen Mary’s crown, featuring diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection. 

It was the first time in history that a crown was reused for a royal coronation.  

However, Camilla wore the crown featuring the Koh-i-noor to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. 

Mayor and King Focus on the Tragedy of 9/11 

Mamdani said his primary focus during the memorial was to honor the victims of the 2001 attacks. 

“I’ll be attending a wreath laying alongside other elected officials, including Gov. Hochul, Gov. 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. 

The memorial commemorates the 25^th  anniversary of the tragedy that occurred decades ago.  

According to The Hill, King Charles brought up the upcoming anniversary of the strikes, which also led to the deaths of 67 British citizens, during his address on Tuesday. 

“This atrocity was a defining moment for America, and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,” said the king. “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 a terrible loss.”