NYC Mayor Mamdani Intends to Ask King Charles for the Return of Koh-i-Noor Diamond

Zohran Mamdani, the Indian-origin Mayor of New York City, has voiced his intention to request King Charles III to return the legendary Koh-i-Noor diamond.

The British monarch and Queen Camilla are currently on an official visit to the United States. During their visit to the '9/11 Memorial' in New York on Wednesday, the Mayor had the opportunity to meet the royal couple. Earlier at a press conference, Mamdani stated that if granted a private audience with the King, he would urge the return of the historic gem. However, the Mayor refrained from specifying which nation—India or Pakistan—should receive the artifact.

The 105-carat Koh-i-Noor, now a centerpiece of the British Crown Jewels, remains a subject of long-standing ownership disputes. Its journey from the Mughal Empire to the Sikh Empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and eventually into British hands during the colonial era, is steeped in complex history. While both India and Pakistan have laid claims to the diamond over the years, the British monarchy has traditionally maintained its current status. A spokesperson for the Royal Family declined to comment on the Mayor's remarks.