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 footprint of the former World Trade Center towers. A note accompanying the flowers said they honored the memory of those who died on September 11, 2001, and stood in enduring solidarity with the American people, signed “Charles R” and “Camilla R.”
They met relatives of victims and first responders at the memorial. Anthoula Katsimatides, whose brother was killed at the World Trade Center, told the Associated Press she was allowed to hug the queen and described the king and queen as “quite endearing,” adding she told the king she thought he was “adorable.”
At the ceremony, King Charles spoke briefly with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other local officials.
Later in the day, the king visited Harlem Grown, an after-school urban farming program that supports children facing 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 also 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, where he emphasized the long-standing UK–US relationship and urged continued support for NATO and for Ukraine.
After the congressional address, President 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 U.S. visit with a formal farewell at the White House on Thursday.
Edited by: Zac Crellin