King Charles III to Attend 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in NYC

King Charles III is set to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial Museum next week in Manhattan, as reported by Politico. New York City’s Mayor Zoran Mamdani, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist, is also anticipated to be there.

According to sources quoted by Politico, the gathering is set for April 29 in downtown Manhattan during the king’s U.S. visit. Notable figures such as former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council President Julie Menin will be in attendance as well.

Joe Calvello, the press secretary for Mayor Mamdani, clarified that while the mayor will be attending the ceremony, he won’t be meeting King Charles personally. Mamdani has been invited to join other elected officials at this significant event alongside members of the British Royal Family.

This visit marks King Charles’ first trip to New York City as a monarch. The last time a reigning British monarch was in New York was in 1939 with King George VI.

During this visit, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be in the U.S. from April 27 to April 30 by invitation from President Donald Trump. The trip is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence and celebrate the historic ties between the U.S. and the U.K., notably including a formal dinner at the White House on April 28.

Meanwhile, Mamdani’s upcoming appearance at the memorial comes amid some backlash over his past comments and connections linked to the 9/11 attacks. In October 2025, he faced criticism after a photo surfaced of him with Imam Shirazi Wahaj, who was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Mamdani had praised Wahaj as an influential Islamic leader, which drew negative reactions from various political figures and public personalities.

Michael Barash, a prominent attorney representing 9/11 victims, expressed outrage over Mamdani aligning with Wahaj, stating that it was a disrespect to the survivors and their families. This incident raised questions about Mamdani’s conduct as a public official.

Additionally, Mamdani faced scrutiny for comments about his purported experience of Islamophobia, especially a claim regarding his aunt’s reactions after the attacks, which was later challenged by media reports suggesting inaccuracies in his account.

In February 2026, he enacted a presidential decree concerning immigration policies, relating it to his interpretation of Islamic migration narratives. He asserted that faith can guide society toward inclusivity, highlighting a contentious stance against immigration enforcement actions.

Mamdani has since attempted to broaden the presence of Islamic communities within New York, even permitting additional mosques to amplify their messages throughout the city on a daily basis.