During the King and Queen’s state visit to the United States, they attended a wreath-laying ceremony honouring victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks at the 9\/11 Memorial and Museum.<\/p>\n
Shortly before Thursday’s ceremony, Mamdani’s spokesperson said he was “generally opposed to the idea of a King”, and it was confirmed they would not be meeting privately.<\/p>\n
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When asked what he would say to Charles if they were to speak outside of the ceremony, Mamdani told reporters: “I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond.”<\/p>\n
Mamdani, who has Indian roots, was later pictured smiling and shaking hands with the King, but it is unclear whether the priceless diamond was mentioned again.<\/p>\n
The 105-carat stone has long been the centre of an ownership debate.<\/p>\n
It is part of the Crown Jewels, having been given to Queen Victoria in 1850, but India claims it was stolen during British rule.<\/p>\n
The Indian government renewed calls for the Koh-i-Noor’s return following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, describing it as a “valued piece of art with strong roots in our nation’s history”.<\/p>\n
The stone, which is around the size of an egg, was originally found in India’s Golconda mines and claimed by various rulers, including Mughal princes and Persian shahs.<\/p>\n
It was in the hands of the 11-year-old Sikh ruler, Duleep Singh, when it was claimed by the British in 1849 following the Anglo-Sikh War.<\/p>\n
There have also been ownership claims from Pakistan and Afghanistan, and former British Prime Minister David Cameron said in 2013 that returning the diamond was not “sensible”.<\/p>\n
The diamond is currently set in the crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and held in the Tower of London.<\/p>\n
The Queen Mother wore the crown for the 1937 coronation of King George VI, and for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.<\/p>\n
Amid renewed calls for the diamond to be returned to India, Queen Camilla chose not to wear the crown<\/a> at King Charles’ coronation in 2023.<\/p>\n