New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said he would encourage Britain’s King Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, making the remarks during the British monarch’s ongoing state visit to the United States.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of a ceremony marking the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mamdani—who is Indian American—said that if he were to speak to the king separately, he would raise the issue of returning the historic 105-carat diamond.
“If I were to speak to the king separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond,” Mamdani said.
Lithograph showing one of the favourite horses of Maharaja Ranjit Singh with the head officer of his stables and his collection of fabulous jewels including the Kohinoor diamond marked as number 1. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Later the same day, King Charles and Mamdani both attended a commemorative ceremony in New York, where the monarch laid a floral bouquet at the 9/11 memorial. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on Mamdani’s remarks, and his office did not respond to questions on whether the issue was raised directly with the king.
The Koh-i-Noor diamond has long been a point of contention between India and Britain. India has repeatedly called for its return, arguing it is a significant cultural artifact with deep historical ties to the country.
Queen Mary’s Crown. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
According to historical accounts cited by the Historic Royal Palaces charity, the diamond was presented to Queen Victoria in 1850 after the East India Company annexed the Punjab region in 1849 and took the gem from a deposed Indian ruler.
The diamond has passed through several hands over centuries, including Mughal emperors, Persian shahs, Afghan emirs and Sikh maharajas, before coming under British possession.
India gained independence from British rule in 1947, and issues linked to the colonial period remain sensitive. The Koh-i-Noor is widely viewed in India as a symbol of colonial-era injustices, while India has previously described it as a “valued piece of art with strong roots in our nation’s history.”
