New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday called on King Charles III to "return" the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a 105.6-carat precious stone mined in India and today the centerpiece of the British Crown Jewels.

Published on: 04/30/2026 - 09:08

On the third day of King Charles III's state visit, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on the British sovereign on Wednesday April 29 to "return" the Koh-i-Noor diamond, the crown jewel obtained in India by the British Empire in the 19th century.

Interviewed before meeting the royal couple during a visit to the 9/11 memorial, Zohran Mamdani said: "If I were to talk to the king about anything other than that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond."

Now on display at the Tower of London, the 105.6-carat gemstone was given to the British East India Company by the Kingdom of Punjab in 1849, as part of the peace treaty concluded after the Anglo-Sikh War.

Myths and facts

While there is little doubt that it was mined in India, its history mixes myth and fact, mixing claims from several countries, such as Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

New Delhi has requested his return several times, without success.

It is unknown at this stage whether the mayor of New York was able to raise the subject directly with Charles III.

The debate on the subject rages in the United Kingdom, to the point that Queen Camilla decided not to wear it during her coronation in 2023.

Zia Yusuf, spokesperson for the anti-immigration Reform UK party, leading the polls in the United Kingdom, called Zohran Mamdani's comments "an insult to our king."

With AFP

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