Mamdani calls on King Charles to return Koh-i-Noor diamond during royal US visit

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India on Wednesday, the third day of the monarch's state visit to the United States.

Mamdani made the remarks before greeting Charles and Queen Camilla at a 9/11 memorial event in New York, saying his primary focus was honouring those killed in the attacks.

What did Mamdani say about the Koh-i-Noor diamond?

Mamdani said he would use a private audience with the king to press for the gem's return. "If I was to speak to the king, separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond," he said. It is unclear whether he raised the subject when the two met shortly after.

The monarch was seen laughing with Mamdani and briefly conversing after the two shook hands at the memorial. Whether the diamond came up in that exchange has not been confirmed. Mamdani, who is of Indian heritage, did not elaborate on his remarks after the meeting.

What is the Koh-i-Noor diamond and where is it now?

The Koh-i-Noor is a 106-carat diamond housed in the Tower of London, where it sits as the centrepiece of Britain's crown jewels, set into the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

Its ownership has been contested for centuries. The stone passed through the hands of Mughal emperors, Iranian shahs and Sikh maharajas before the Kingdom of Punjab ceded it to Queen Victoria in 1849 as part of a peace treaty.

While there is little doubt the diamond was mined in India, its history beyond that point is a mix of documented fact and disputed legend. India has repeatedly sought its return without success. Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan have also laid claim to the gem, complicating any straightforward repatriation argument.

How did politicians react to Mamdani's Koh-i-Noor remarks?

A politician from the anti-immigration Reform UK party was quick to condemn the comments. Zia Yusuf, the party's home affairs spokesman, called the remarks an "insult to our King" in a post on X.

"This beautiful diamond is currently on display in the Tower of London," Yusuf wrote. "That is where it will stay."