King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Wednesday, the third day of their state visit to the United States. The royal couple, accompanied by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, laid a bouquet of white flowers on the memorial's parapet and bowed their heads in a sombre moment of reflection.
The trio then proceeded to a white tent where they held private conversations with the families of victims, first responders, and local officials. Among the dignitaries present was New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Earlier in the day, Mamdani emphasized that the event should focus on the victims of the tragedy and stated he would not engage in political discussions with the King.
Approaching 25th Anniversary of the Attacks
The royal visit comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania, including 67 British nationals. Anthoula Katsimatides, whose brother died at the World Trade Center, was among the relatives who met the royal couple. She described the encounter as heartwarming, noting that the Queen allowed her to hug her and that she found both the King and Queen endearing.
Farm and Library Visits
Following the memorial, King Charles visited an after-school community organization in Harlem that runs an urban farming initiative aimed at supporting youth affected by food insecurity. He planted lavender and mustard seeds and fed chickens alongside primary schoolchildren at Harlem Grown's farm. Later, he traveled to Rockefeller Center to meet with business leaders from top American companies, including Google, OpenAI, JPMorgan Chase, and Comcast.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla attended a literary event at the New York Public Library, where she spoke with actress Sarah Jessica Parker, an avid reader and owner of a publishing imprint. About 100 guests were invited, including British editor Anna Wintour and authors Min Jin Lee and Harlan Coben. Author and journalist Jenna Bush Hager, granddaughter of former U.S. president George H. W. Bush, introduced the Queen at the event.
Tour to Conclude in Virginia
The four-day trip marks King Charles's first state visit to the United States since his accession to the throne. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the U.S. during her reign. The royal couple will conclude their tour in Virginia, attending several events, including a celebration of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
— with files from The Associated Press
