The King and Queen have laid a bouquet of flowers and a handwritten note at the site of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York, on the third day of their US state visit.
On the first stop of a packed and varied itinerary, they paid their respects to the victims almost 25 years on at the National September 11 Memorial, where the World Trade Center stood.
It is Charles and Camilla’s first visit to the memorial, which opened in 2011 and serves as a permanent place of remembrance.
They placed an elegant assortment of white flowers on the edge of one of the memorial’s pools in remembrance of the nearly 3,000 lives lost, as well as all those forever altered by the 2001 attacks and victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
This was followed by a moment of quiet reflection, with Their Majesties evidently moved by visiting such a poignant location.
Accompanying the bouquet was a handwritten note from the King and Queen, which read: ‘We honour the memory for those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001.
‘We stand in enduring solidarity with the American people and in the face of their profound loss. Charles R Camilla.’
The royal couple was also set to meet families of victims and some of the first responders, as well as current serving personnel, to hear about the legacy and the human impact of the tragedy.
The King and Queen laid a bouquet of flowers on the edge of one of the pools of the 9/11 memorial
This was the first time either Charles or Camilla had visited the memorial, which is at the old site of the World Trade Center
The Royal couple also left a handwritten note, which said they stand in ‘enduring solidarity with the American people and in the face of their profound loss’
The King met with the current Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, who is known to have little regard for the royal family
They were at first escorted around the site by former New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, left
Upon their arrival, they were escorted on a walk near the memorial with former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was was in office from January 2002, shortly after the terror attack, until 2013.
The Queen put on a navy blue crepe silk dress and coat both by Fiona Clare for the engagement, with the Britannia red, white and blue brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth.
Their Majesties have met with some of New York’s elected officials at the site, including the Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, whose inclusion has excited many American political commentators.
Ugandan-born Mr Mamdani is considered an outspoken ‘post-colonialist’ with little regard for the Royal Family.
He has said of their meeting: ‘I will be attending the wreath-laying… to pay tribute to the more than 3,000 who were killed in the horrific terror attacks of September 11. And that will be the extent of my meeting with the King and with others who are present.’
His father, respected academic Mahmood Mamdani, specialises in the study of African and international politics, colonialism and post-colonialism, and has written on the lasting impacts of British colonial rule in Africa including in Uganda.
Just last month, the Mayor drew parallels between the war in the Middle East and British rule over Ireland.
However the King and Queen frequently meet politicians of all political persuasions through their work and no major ceremony in the city would be complete without the Mayor being present.
The King and Queen warmly greeted a string of officials at the site of the memorial
Their majesties will also observe a moment of silent reflection to remember the victims of the 2001 terror attacks
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrives at the 9/11 Memorial ahead of the King and Queen
The couple were also set to speak to the Governors of New York State and New Jersey State, Kathy Hochul and Mikie Sherill, as well as Commonwealth representatives, recognising those who lost their lives across the Commonwealth family.
After mingling with officials, the royal couple disappeared into the museum to take in the exhibitions.
Their bouquet of flowers was laid at an installation called Reflecting Absence – twin waterfall pools that sit in the footprints of the World Trade Centre’s north and south towers.
They are nestled among skyscrapers in a space filled with dozens of swamp white oak trees, with the sound of cascading water creating a feeling of tranquillity away from bustling Manhattan.
The King and Queen laid the bouquet of white roses at the edge of the south pool during a sombre and poignant moment of reflection.
Surrounding the waterfalls, which plunge almost 10 metres into a large basin before the water drops again, six metres into a central void, are the names of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing.
According to the memorial’s architect, Michael Arad, the pools represent ‘absence made visible’ and although water flows into the voids, they can never be filled.
Before departing, the King and Queen will meet charities and organisations supporting the families of victims and preserving the legacy of 9/11 for future generations.
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for the state dinner at the White House in Washington yesterday, on day two of the state visit
These groups will include Tuesday’s Children – which provides youth mentoring, community programmes and events – and representatives from the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden – which was opened by Her late Majesty in 2010 as a permanent living memorial to the British and Commonwealth citizens who died in the attacks.
Afterwards Their Majesties will undertake separate engagements in the city – her a literacy event and he an after-school urban farming project and business meeting – before coming together for a star-studded engagement celebrating the cream of UK and US culture.
They will fly back to Washington tonight for formal farewells with President Trump and First Lady Melania tomorrow morning at the White House before concluding their four-day visit with an afternoon of engagements in Virginia including a fun ‘Block Party’ in a local community.
This third day of the visit comes after a series of engagements in Washington, including Charles’s address to congress and the state banquet on Tuesday.
One moment from the proceedings that has raised eyebrows came when Donald Trump divulged, during his speech at the dinner, that the King agreed Iran must never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.
Trump said: ‘We’re doing a little work in the Middle East right now. And we’re doing very well.
‘We have militarily defeated that particular opponent and we are never going to let that opponent ever – Charles agrees with me, even more than I do – we will never let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. They know that.’
The President’s words were greeted with cheers by many of the 120-strong diners.
Buckingham Palace has moved to smooth over the fallout from Trump’s claim, which broke with the protocol against revealing the King’s privately held opinions.
The Palace said this morning: ‘The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s longstanding and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.’
