King Charles III and Queen Camilla made a poignant stop at the 9/11 Memorial in New York during their state visit, leaving a handwritten message emphasizing the 'enduring solidarity' between the United Kingdom and the United States. The royal couple placed a bouquet of white flowers at the site on Wednesday evening, April 29, accompanied by a note honoring those who lost their lives in the 2001 attacks and reaffirming their support for the American people.
Guided by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the visit served as a symbolic gesture of the shared history between the two nations, particularly as political tensions simmer between President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During a speech to Congress the previous day, the King reminded lawmakers that the September 11 attacks marked the first invocation of NATO’s Article 5, underscoring the UK's commitment to America's defense. The visit also included meetings with local officials, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul, and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill.
In the afternoon, the royal couple attended separate engagements reflecting their personal philanthropic interests. King Charles, a dedicated advocate for sustainability, visited Harlem Grown, an urban farming nonprofit. He spent time with local children and participated in feeding chickens at a community coop built on a transformed abandoned lot.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla visited the New York Public Library for a literary event where she met with prominent figures such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, and author Min Jin Lee. She presented the library with a special gift: a replica Roo doll to complete the original collection of toys that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories, as the original Roo had been lost for decades. The day concluded a significant New York detour before the royals continued their state visit itinerary.
