New York
King Charles III and Queen Camilla continued Wednesday to focus on the “enduring solidarity” between the United States and the United Kingdom, in a heartfelt handwritten message left at the 9/11 Memorial in New York.
“We honour the memory of those who tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001,” the royals wrote on the observe card hooked up to a bouquet of white flowers. “We stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of profound loss.”
The second was half of the King and Queen’s day-long detour from Washington, DC, as much as New York to focus on the shared connections between the US and UK and highlight some of the royals’ philanthropic pursuits. They additionally met dignitaries and celebrities in America’s most populous metropolis.
The King and Queen have been guided for half of their go to to the positioning by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who chairs the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The handwritten message was half of Charles’ efforts to focus on the help and solidarity between the 2 allies at a time when US President Donald Trump’s relations with Europe — and the UK specifically — are underneath pressure. Trump has been a repeated critic of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, together with in public remarks Wednesday.
In a speech to the US Congress the day earlier than, the King additionally talked about the September 11, 2001, terrorist assaults as the primary time NATO’s Article 5 was invoked, and the UK got here to America’s protection.
“The commitment and expertise of the United States Armed Forces and its allies lie at the heart of NATO, pledged to each other’s defense, protecting our citizens and interests, keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries,” Charles stated in his speech Tuesday.
The September 11 assaults at the World Trade Center killed practically 2,800 folks — 67 of whom have been British.
The royal couple met a number of of New York’s elected officers at the Ground Zero website, together with Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Before the occasion, Mamdani stated he would ask Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond — one of the world’s most famous and controversial gemstones — to India if he had the chance to talk individually with the monarch. It is unclear whether or not he did. NCS has reached out to Mamdani’s workplace to ask.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill additionally attended and met the King.
Chickens and Winnie-the-Pooh
The King and Queen went their separate methods for many of the afternoon, with Charles heading as much as Harlem to go to an city farm, whereas Camilla went to the New York Public Library.
King Charles is a longtime environmentalist and advocate for sustainability, so the go to to the Harlem Grown nonprofit was a becoming one. The neighborhood group works to rework deserted city tons into sustainable farms, aiming to sort out households’ systemic well being, training and well-being challenges.
The monarch even obtained some hands-on expertise at the farm, becoming a member of a number of kids in feeding chickens at the coop.
Across city, Camilla met a number of high-profile writers — and readers — at a literary occasion at the library.
They included Sarah Jessica Parker, an actress, avid reader and publishing imprint owner. Also in attendance have been Anna Wintour, Vogue’s world editorial director, and Min Jin Lee, a Korean American creator greatest recognized for her novel, “Free Food for Millionaires.”
Camilla got here to the library with a particular reward: a brand new Roo doll to finish the gathering of toys that impressed A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh tales.
The authentic Roo has been lengthy misplaced, so Camilla introduced a duplicate that may now be a part of Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Roo’s mother Kanga, who have been donated to the library practically 40 years in the past.
NCS’s Elise Hammond and Maureen Chowdhury contributed to this report.