‘Return Kohinoor’: Mamdani to raise Kohinoor demand with King Charles III during New York visit; watch what he said publicly
Mamdani’s direct message to King Charles
When asked what she would say if she met the British monarch, Mamdani did not mince words. “If I had spoken to the king… I would probably have encouraged him to return the Kohinoor diamond,” he said.
This statement stands out because mayoral agreements with the British Crown generally follow strict diplomatic language. Mamdani’s comment instead brought a long-standing historical dispute into the modern political environment.
Royal visit linked to 9/11 commemoration
King III. Charles is in New York with Queen Camilla to visit One World Trade Center, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Approximately 3,000 people, including 67 British citizens, died in the attacks.
Mamdani is expected to attend the event and put her on the same page as the ruler she has openly challenged.
Mamdani’s personal connection to India
The mayor’s statements also carry a personal layer. His mother, Mira Nair, was born in India before moving to the United States, and his father, Mahmood Mamdani, lived and worked on continents including Africa.
Why is the Kohinoor still important?
Meaning “Mountain of Light,” Kohinoor is more than a precious stone. It represents both legacy and historical wounds. First mined in the Kollur region of India, the diamond once weighed 186 carats before being cut. It passed through many ruling powers, including the Mughals and the Sikh empire.
In 1849, after the Second Anglo-Sikh War, the British East India Company took control of Punjab. The 10-year-old monarch, Maharaja Duleep Singh, signed the Treaty of Lahore, transferring the diamond to Queen Victoria.
Today, the 105.6-carat jewel sits in the British Crown on display in the Tower of London.
An argument that refuses to fade
For many in India, the Kohinoor is seen as a symbol of colonial extraction rather than a legal transfer. However, the British government has long maintained that the diamond was obtained legally within the scope of the agreement.
Historians and critics dispute that a document signed by an oppressed child ruler cannot be considered legitimate.
Wider global demand
Mamdani’s statement echoes similar calls from other regions seeking the return of artifacts, including Greece’s request for the Elgin Marbles and African countries’ pressure for the Benin Bronzes.
Mamdani changed the tone of a typically symbolic engagement by raising the issue of the Kohinoor ahead of the royal visit. His stance places historical responsibility at the center of today’s diplomatic moment.
