King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during a visit to New York City on Wednesday.
The royal couple placed a bouquet of white lilacs, daffodils and peonies at the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan, on the site where the World Trade Center’s twin towers once stood. A note with the flowers read: “We honour the memory of all those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001, and stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of such profound loss. Charles R Camilla R.”
They then met relatives of victims and first responders. Anthoula Katsimatides, whose brother died at the World Trade Center, told the Associated Press she was “allowed to hug the queen,” calling the queen and king “quite endearing” and adding she told the king “that I thought he was adorable.”
At the ceremony, King Charles briefly spoke with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other local officials.
Later, the king visited Harlem Grown, an after-school urban farming program helping children affected by food insecurity. There he planted lavender and mustard seeds with primary school pupils, fed chickens and spoke with the children.
The visit is part of the royal couple’s four-day state trip to the United States, which marks the 250th anniversary of America’s declaration of independence. Earlier in the week they attended a White House tea with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. On Tuesday, Charles delivered a rare address to Congress and attended a formal state dinner at the White House. In his speech he emphasized the long-standing UK-US relationship and argued for a strong NATO and support for Ukraine.
After the address, Trump said Charles “would have probably helped” the United States in any military action against Iran, and praised the king as “fantastic” and “a great friend of mine,” saying they had spent a lot of time talking.
The royal couple are expected to conclude their US visit with a formal farewell at the White House on Thursday.
Edited by: Zac Crellin