King Charles III and Queen Camilla paid their respects at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Wednesday afternoon, marking a solemn stop on their U.S. tour. The visit, the first to the Empire State by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 2010, came after a packed schedule of political engagements in Washington.
The royal couple, accompanied by New York officials, observed a moment of silence at the memorial's reflecting pools, which honor the nearly 3,000 victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The event began at 1 p.m. EDT and was broadcast live.
Earlier in the week, King Charles met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, where the two leaders discussed a range of issues. According to Trump's claims that the king supported his stance on Iran's nuclear program, the conversation reportedly touched on efforts to curb Tehran's ambitions. The king and queen later joined the president and first lady Melania Trump for a state dinner featuring a menu from garden velouté to beehive cake.
In a significant address before a joint meeting of Congress, the king urged lawmakers to defend the transatlantic alliance amid global threats. His speech, which touched on shared values and the need for unity, drew both praise and criticism. Some Republicans mocked Democrats for cheering the monarch after their 'no kings' slogans, highlighting the political tensions surrounding the visit.
The New York leg of the tour underscores the historical ties between the U.S. and the U.K., but also comes at a time of diplomatic nuance. The king's visit to the 9/11 Memorial served as a poignant reminder of the shared sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, a theme he echoed in his congressional address.
Observers noted that the visit avoided the more contentious aspects of the Washington meetings, focusing instead on solemn remembrance. The royal couple is expected to engage with community leaders and first responders during their time in New York, further cementing the symbolic nature of the trip.
The 9/11 Memorial visit also provided a moment of reflection amid a busy itinerary that included a lighthearted White House welcome where Trump revealed his mother's crush on the king. The juxtaposition of personal anecdotes with weighty policy discussions has characterized this royal tour.
