King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the National September 11 Memorial in New York City, where they left a heartfelt handwritten note remembering the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The royal couple arrived in New York after spending two days in Washington, D.C., hosted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
A Touching Tribute at Ground Zero
At the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, Charles and Camilla placed a bouquet accompanied by a note that read: “We honour the memory of those who tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001. We stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of profound loss.” The message highlighted the “enduring solidarity” between the UK and the US at a time when the bilateral relationship has faced strain due to Trump’s trade threats, his attacks on Iran, anti-NATO stance, and criticism of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Guided by Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg
The royals were guided through the vast memorial by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Current Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended the ceremony alongside other officials. According to the New York Times, this marked the first time a British monarch has visited the site since the memorial opened. The late Queen Elizabeth II had laid a wreath at the site in 2010.
Following the memorial visit, the King participated in a community event at the Harlem Grown charity in Harlem, where he helped children in the garden. Meanwhile, the Queen attended a literature event at the New York Public Library.
High-Stakes Diplomatic Visit
The royal visit has drawn significant attention, from the King’s congressional speech hinting at victims of Jeffrey Epstein to the formal dinner at the White House. During the dinner, President Trump claimed that the King “agrees” with him that Iran should never possess a nuclear weapon. Trump stated: “We are doing a little bit of Middle East work right now, you might know. And we are doing very well. We have militarily defeated that particular opponent. And we’re never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me, even more than I do – we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.”
The King paid homage to the “special relationship” between the UK and US by gifting the president a bell from HMS Trump, a World War II submarine that survived the war in the Pacific. Today, the monarchs will return to Virginia to formally bid farewell to Trump before departing for the Bahamas.
