NYC Mayor Asks King Charles to Return Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday he would encourage King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India if given the opportunity during a private...
- Mamdani made the comment during a press conference, stating, “I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor,” according to reporting from NBC New York.
- The mayor’s remarks came approximately two hours before he was scheduled to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla at a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Wednesday he would encourage King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India if given the opportunity during a private meeting. The 105.6-carat gem is currently set in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and housed in the Tower of London.
Mamdani made the comment during a press conference, stating, “I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor,” according to reporting from NBC New York. The diamond was taken by the East India Company from a deposed Indian leader in 1849 as part of a peace agreement.
The mayor’s remarks came approximately two hours before he was scheduled to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla at a wreath-laying ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial. Photographs show the two shaking hands following the event.
Mamdani initially avoided directly answering a question about what he would discuss with the King, but when pressed by NBC New York, he specifically mentioned the Koh-i-Noor diamond. He did not elaborate further on his reasoning or potential approach.
Controversial History of the Koh-i-Noor
The Koh-i-Noor diamond has a long and contested history, with many Indians believing it was stolen by the British. The diamond was presented to Queen Victoria in 1849 as part of the Treaty of Lahore, which concluded the First Anglo-Sikh War.
Buckingham Palace has not yet issued a statement regarding Mayor Mamdani’s comments.
According to a report from CBS News, the diamond has had numerous previous owners, including rulers of the Mughal Empire, shahs of Iran, emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas. In 2016, India’s Culture Ministry stated its intention to make every effort to reclaim the diamond.
Dr. Amanda Foreman, a royal contributor speaking to CBS News New York, explained that King Charles does not personally own the Koh-i-Noor, stating, “The king has no more power to return the diamond than he has to return Buckingham Palace to the people.”
The New York City mayor’s suggestion has raised questions about diplomatic protocol, with some observers suggesting it may not have been the most tactful approach.