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NEW YORK — King Charles III and Queen Camilla commenced their visit to New York City on Wednesday with a poignant stop at the National 9/11 Memorial. There, they paid their respects to those who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks and engaged with the bereaved families.
This visit is a significant part of the royal couple’s four-day U.S. tour, which commemorates 250 years of American independence. Notably, this marks the first time a reigning British monarch has visited New York City since Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2010.
Arriving by motorcade, the king and queen were welcomed by a host of dignitaries at the memorial. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined them as they walked to one of the memorial’s parapets, which encircle the twin pools bearing the victims’ names. King Charles placed flowers at the site in a gesture of remembrance.
The royal visit included a heartfelt exchange with family members of the 9/11 victims and first responders. Some family members clutched photos of their loved ones. Among those present were New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, and other notable figures. This solemn ceremony precedes the upcoming 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Consistent with tradition, King Charles and Queen Camilla refrained from making public remarks at the memorial. The site is traditionally reserved for speeches by the victims’ families and friends during annual commemorations, avoiding political or public figure addresses.
The queen was scheduled to visit the New York Public Library, where she’ll deliver a new Roo doll to add to the library’s famed collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals, as the beloved children’s character turns 100 this year.
The five dolls currently on display — Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore and Kanga — were the inspiration for the characters in A.A. Milne’s children’s books. They were owned by the English author’s son, the real-life Christopher Robin, in the 1920s. The dolls were donated to the library in 1987 and are a centerpiece of the library’s collection of children’s literature. Roo, in the books, was a small brown kangaroo and son of Kanga.
The king, meanwhile, was expected to visit an after-school, urban farming effort that works with young people affected by food insecurity, as well as meet later with business and financial leaders in Manhattan.
The royal couple are then expected to attend a reception for the King’s Trust, a charity Charles founded in 1976.
The four-day trip is Charles’ first state visit to the U.S. since he became king. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the U.S.
Monday, the king and queen joined President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.
On Tuesday, Charles and Trump had a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office. The king then delivered a rare speech before Congress — the first by a British monarch since his late mother in 1991 — followed by a formal state dinner at the White House.
The monarchs are also expected to make stops in Virginia before wrapping up their U.S. visit back at the White House on Thursday with a formal farewell from Trump. Charles then travels solo to Bermuda on his first visit as king to a British overseas territory.
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Associated Press writer Dave Collins in Hartford, Conn., contributed to this report.
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