Socialist NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani urges King Charles to return diamond to India

Dorothy Reddin
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 19:34:47 +0000

New York's socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has urged King Charles to hand back the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India.

The Democratic socialist, who has Indian heritage, made the remarks to reporters on Wednesday ahead of meeting the monarch at the city's 9/11 memorial.

"If I were to speak to the King separately from that, I'd probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond," Mr Mamdani said.

The mayor indicated he intended to bring up the matter should an opportunity arise for a private conversation with the King during the afternoon's events.

The jewel has been a source of diplomatic tension between Britain and India for generations. Originally weighing 186 carats, the diamond's name translates from Persian as "mountain of light."

Its precise origins remain uncertain, though records first place it in 17th-century India as part of the Mughal Empire's treasures.

The stone subsequently passed through Persian hands and travelled to what is now Afghanistan before returning to the subcontinent.

The British East India Company acquired the 105-carat gem in 1849 following the annexation of Punjab, presenting it to Queen Victoria.

Critics like Mr Mamdani view the diamond as emblematic of colonial exploitation. India mounted an unsuccessful diplomatic effort to recover the jewel in 2023.

The King and Queen were on the third day of their US state visit when they joined Mr Mamdani at the National September 11 Memorial on Wednesday afternoon.

Their Majesties paid tribute to the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, placing a bouquet at the edge of one of the memorial pools.

It marked the royal couple's first visit to the site, which opened in 2011 as a space for remembrance and public education.

They met with victims' families, emergency workers who participated in rescue operations, and current serving staff.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill also attended alongside Commonwealth representatives.

The Queen made a conscious choice not to wear a crown containing the Koh-i-Noor at the King's Coronation, seeking to sidestep potential controversy.

Following Elizabeth II's death, a spokesman for Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party warned that displaying the diamond could "transport" some "back to the days of the British Empire in India."

The King had navigated his US state visit without diplomatic friction with Donald Trump until Mr Mamdani's intervention.

The mayor's remarks threaten to revive debate over one of the Crown Jewels' most contentious pieces.

The royal couple were due to attend further engagements in New York before returning to Washington, DC.