Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to New York City on Wednesday to pay respects to those killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, continuing their four-day official visit to the United States.
The royal couple’s New York agenda follows an eventful Tuesday in the nation’s capital, where King Charles addressed members of Congress, conducted private discussions with President Donald Trump during ongoing U.S.-UK diplomatic tensions regarding Iran, and met with American technology sector leaders.
During Tuesday evening’s White House state dinner, President Trump indicated that King Charles expressed support for ending Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, since the monarch does not speak for Britain’s government, this claim remains unverified. Neither Downing Street nor Buckingham Palace immediately provided comment when asked about the alleged statement.
The King and Queen will start their New York activities with a memorial service at the 9/11 site in lower Manhattan, where al-Qaeda terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center’s twin towers on September 11, 2001, claiming nearly 2,800 lives.
King Charles is scheduled to meet with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during the memorial ceremony.
Following the tribute, the King plans to travel to Harlem to tour a community-based organization that established an environmentally-friendly after-school urban agriculture program designed to address local food shortage issues, according to area news outlets. Environmental and sustainability initiatives have remained close to the King’s heart throughout his decades of public service.
Queen Camilla will separately participate in celebrating the centennial of A.A. Milne’s beloved character Winnie the Pooh through her charitable organization, The Queen’s Reading Room, in what Buckingham Palace describes as a “literary engagement” activity.
The royal visit to New York marks the third day of their American state tour, occurring during a period of strained relations between Washington and London, as President Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for allegedly providing insufficient assistance in the Iran conflict.
During his Congressional address Tuesday, King Charles emphasized the enduring military and cultural bonds between Britain and America, officially marking the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence from British sovereignty.
However, the monarch also highlighted NATO’s significance while President Trump has criticized the Western alliance’s hesitancy to provide military support for the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, and cautioned against American withdrawal from international engagement.
“I pray with all my heart that our lands will continue to defend our shared values with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking,” Charles stated during his joint address to the Senate and House of Representatives.
