King Charles III’s Upcoming Visit to New York

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are planning a grand visit to New York City on Wednesday. Interestingly, some locals have alternative suggestions if the royals want to experience the true essence of the city.

The itinerary for the day includes several stops throughout Manhattan, like the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, as well as the New York Public Library. This marks the first visit by a British head of state to New York since Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2010. Charles, who took the throne in 2022 at the age of 73, last set foot in the city in 2007 when he and Camilla visited the Promise Academy Charter School in Harlem.

However, a few people from the suburbs expressed curiosity about why the couple wouldn’t venture beyond Manhattan during their state visit.

“They should check out the Brooklyn Botanical Garden when the cherry blossoms are out,” suggested Hilda Auferman, 75, a retired teacher from Queens. “Or maybe the Statue of Liberty, our freedom symbol,” she mused, adding, “But isn’t that more about France than England? Perhaps they’re after something more British.”

Melissa Corbin, 42, also from Queens and working as an office manager, offered a different idea. “What if they went to the beach? Just imagine them riding a cyclone at Coney Island!” she remarked, before backtracking slightly, saying, “But, then again, Coney Island might be a bit too risky for them.”

Maria, a 53-year-old who has been a sales assistant at Macy’s in Herald Square for years, mentioned that they should indulge in some home-cooked Italian food on the Upper West Side and tour Ellis Island. “They should use the subway. It’s challenging but worth it. Just mingle with people and enjoy,” she said, without giving her last name.

“In New York, life is precious. Smile, smell the flowers… just enjoy life,” she encouraged. “Make the most of your vacation!”

On the flip side, some New Yorkers were less than thrilled about the visit.

“I can’t stand the royal family. They’re just welfare fraudsters on a grand scale,” expressed Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels and a former mayoral candidate, during a Tuesday radio show. “Remember, we fought a revolution to rid ourselves of the British monarchy. It’s all about freedom—no taxation without representation!”

Despite mixed feelings, the visit will retain its diplomatic charm, echoing the locations traditionally visited by the royal family during past trips to New York.