NYC’s socialist mayor meets King Charles in Big Apple hours after suggesting royal should RETURN the most famous of his crown jewels to India

Zohran Mamdani suggested that King Charles III return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India just hours before meeting him in New York City.

Mamdani shook hands with King Charles III at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on Wednesday afternoon during a wreath-laying ceremony. 

Previously, when asked what the democratic socialist mayor would say to the king, Mamdani told reporters he would demand one of the most famous British Crown Jewels be returned.

‘If I were to speak to the king separately from [the ceremony], I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond,’ he said. 

Mamdani’s unrelated press conference was held just before he was set to meet King Charles and Queen Camilla in Lower Manhattan.

Today’s ceremony was part of the couple’s four-day trip to the US, during which they will honor the 3,000 New Yorkers who were killed during the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The British monarch has not visited the US in almost 20 years. 

The Koh-i-Noor diamond has been a point of contention between India and England for centuries. The Asian country claimed it was found in the Andhra Pradesh region.

Zohran Mamdani told the press that the king should return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India on Wednesday

Mamdani shook hands with King Charles III just hours after demanding he return the Koh-i-Noor Diamond to India

The Koh-i-Noor diamond was acquired by Britain in the mid-1800s

It is a 105.6 carat diamond is currently set in the Crown of the Queen Mother, after ending up in the royal family’s collection in the 1800s. 

The diamond was previously worn by Queen Elizabeth and Queen Elizabeth II. The infamous gem is now on display at the Tower of London. 

Critics have said that Koh-i-Noor is a ‘symbol of conquest’ over the Indian people, per the New York Post.  

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Mamdani’s mother was born in India before she moved to the US for college. The country was under British rule between 1858 and 1947. 

His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is an anthropologist who specializes in colonialism and post-colonialism as well as African and international politics. 

It could be because of this that the mayor appeared to take a frosty approach to the royal visit, Politico reported, much in opposition to President Trump’s meeting with the king. 

When asked directly again about what he may discuss with King Charles, Mamdani omitted his name altogether.  

King Charles III and Queen Camilla laid a bouquet of white flowers at the 9/11 memorial

Mamdani appeared to have a slightly frostier approach to meeting the king than President Trump before him

‘I’ll be attending a wreath laying alongside other elected officials, including Governor Hochul, Governor Sherrill, and the focus of that wreath laying is to honor the more than 3,000 New Yorkers who were killed in the horrific terror attacks of September 11,’ he said. 

‘And that is really what I’m looking to do at that event.’ 

Despite Mamdani’s cold shoulder, the men were seen talking and smiling at the wreath-laying event on Wednesday. 

It is unclear what they discussed and whether Mamdani truly demanded the king return the precious jewel.

King Charles and Queen Camilla laid a bouquet of White Roses on the memorial, which was erected in 2014. 

The couple also met with the families of the terror attack’s victims. 

Their visit marks the first by a British monarch since the monument opened.

The couple also met withe the families of 9/11 victims while at the wreath laying ceremony

During his address to Congress on Tuesday, the king mentioned the upcoming 25th anniversary of 9/11. 

‘This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,’ he said. 

‘During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss,’ he continued.

‘We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten.’ 

More than 65 British citizens were killed in the attack, reported The Hill.  

From the event at Ground Zero, the couple headed uptown to attend separate appearances. Camilla attended a literacy event while Charles met with children in Harlem.

The Daily Mail contacted the Mayor’s Office for comment.