OAN Staff Lillian Mann
12:20 PM – Wednesday, April 29, 2026
On the second leg of their U.S. tour, King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited the September 11th Memorial in New York City. Accompanied by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the royal couple spent Wednesday afternoon paying their respects to the victims of the attacks through a solemn wreath-laying ceremony.
The visit to the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan was a centerpiece of the royal itinerary, as the Monarchs joined the United States in commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Marking a significant milestone nearly a quarter-century after the tragedy, King Charles III and Queen Camilla became the first British monarchs to visit Ground Zero, where they placed a bouquet of roses and a handwritten note upon the bronze parapet.
The King and Queen arrived by motorcade and were escorted by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The group then walked to the memorial pools — which display the “footprints” of the original Twin Towers — to pay a silent tribute to the victims.
Following the wreath-laying, the royal couple met with a line of first responders and family members of the victims. They were joined by a delegation of local leaders, including current Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-N.Y.), Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), as well as Governor Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.).
Security in New York City has tightened considerably since the Royal’s arrival on Monday. The heightened security has even prompted road closures and traffic delays throughout Manhattan, according to the New York Police Department.
The surge in security also follows last Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner (WHCD), where an armed man, later identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, launched a failed assassination attempt against President Donald Trump and his administration officials.
Continuing their diplomatic tour, the Queen is scheduled to visit the New York Public Library to donate a new Roo doll to the institution’s renowned collection of original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals, a gesture marking the 100th anniversary of the beloved children’s character.
Simultaneously, the King will visit an after-school urban farming initiative dedicated to supporting youth impacted by food insecurity, followed by a series of meetings with Manhattan’s prominent business and financial leaders.
These engagements follow a busy start to the week. After arriving on Monday, the royal couple joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.
On Tuesday, King Charles III held a private meeting with the president in the Oval Office before delivering a historic address to a joint session of Congress, marking the first speech by a British monarch to the legislative body since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. Then, later on Tuesday night, the British royals were also honored at a state dinner hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania.
During the formal dinner, King Charles delivered a keynote address emphasizing the enduring significance of the NATO alliance and the strategic AUKUS submarine pact, while President Trump reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons.
The King concluded his remarks by offering a toast to the steadfast partnership between the two nations, celebrating their shared history and future cooperation.
According to the Associated Press, the royal couple is also expected to travel to Virginia for scheduled engagements before returning to the White House on Thursday, where they will receive a formal farewell from the president to conclude their official visit to the United States.
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