New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would urge King Charles III to return the historic Kohinoor Diamond to India during the monarch’s visit to the United States, bringing renewed attention to a long-standing cultural and political dispute.
Mamdani, who is of Indian origin, made the remark ahead of a ceremony marking the victims of the September 11 attacks. When asked what he would raise in a private conversation with the British monarch, he indicated that he would encourage the return of the diamond, which has remained a subject of contention between India and the United Kingdom for decades.
Later that day, King Charles and Mamdani briefly interacted at the memorial event in New York. While they were seen exchanging greetings and engaging in a short conversation, it is not confirmed whether the issue of the Kohinoor was discussed during that exchange. Neither Buckingham Palace nor the mayor’s office provided further details about the content of their interaction.
The Kohinoor Diamond, weighing approximately 105.6 carats, has a complex history. It was mined in the Indian subcontinent and passed through the hands of multiple rulers, including Mughal emperors, Persian rulers, and Afghan leaders, before coming under British control. In 1849, the British East India Company took possession of the diamond under the Treaty of Lahore, which compelled the young Sikh ruler Maharaja Duleep Singh to surrender it.
Today, the diamond is part of the British Crown Jewels and is displayed at the Tower of London. India has consistently argued that the gem was taken under coercion and considers it a symbol of colonial exploitation, repeatedly calling for its return. The United Kingdom, however, maintains that its ownership is legally grounded in the historical treaty.
Mamdani’s comments have once again highlighted the broader debate over the restitution of cultural artifacts acquired during the colonial period, an issue that continues to shape diplomatic and historical discourse between former colonies and colonial powers.
