King Charles and Queen Camilla laid flowers at the September 11 Memorial in New York, in a sombre moment during their state visit to the United States. This marks the first time the royal couple has visited the site, which commemorates nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attacks 25 years ago. They met with families of the victims and spoke to some of the first responders involved in the rescue attempt, with New York’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Mayor Michael Bloomberg among the dignitaries present. The visit occurred under very tight security, including a heavy police presence, road closures, checkpoints, and circling helicopters. In the New York sunshine, the King and Queen placed a bouquet of white roses beside the deep pools that now serve as a memorial. A handwritten note read: ‘We honour the memory of those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001. We stand in enduring solidarity with the American people and in the face of their profound loss. Charles R Camilla.’ The site also features a museum, now a permanent memorial, situated in an open space surrounded by the city’s skyscrapers. The King and Queen also engaged in conversations with representatives from charities supporting victims’ families and educational groups dedicated to preserving the memory of the 2001 events. King Charles had previously highlighted the importance of the 9/11 attacks in his speech to the US Congress on Tuesday, urging US lawmakers to maintain support for NATO and citing how NATO members rallied to assist the US after the attacks. ‘This atrocity was a defining moment for America, and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,’ the King stated, adding that ‘the same unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine.’ However, a diplomatic point arose from President Donald Trump, who suggested the King might have aligned with his approach on Iran – an issue that has previously caused friction between the UK and US governments. ‘I think if he were doing that, if that were up to him, he would have probably helped us with Iran,’ President Trump commented. Buckingham Palace was contacted for a response.
Queen Camilla’s Focus on Literacy
On the third day of the royal trip, Queen Camilla visited the New York Public Library to underscore the importance of literacy. She explained how books can broaden horizons, stating: ‘The first Americans I knew and loved were the characters I met in my treasured children’s novels: Little Women, What Katy Did, Charlotte’s Web.’ Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and former Vogue editor Anna Wintour were also in attendance. The Queen, a longstanding advocate for literacy and reading, read ‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ to a group of children. She also brought a unique literary donation to the library. Since 1987, the library has displayed the original stuffed toys from the 1920s that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. However, the toy of Roo, the baby kangaroo, has been missing since the 1930s. The Queen brought a replacement Roo from the UK, crafted by the same company that made the originals. Through her ‘Queen’s Reading Room’ project, the Queen has actively promoted literacy. Vicki Perrin, CEO of the charity, who also travelled to New York, warned on Wednesday of a ‘reading crisis,’ emphasizing the ‘transformative benefits on mental health, brain health, and social health’ that reading provides. The Queen also toured a collection at the library showcasing 250 years of shared American and British literary history.
King Charles in Harlem and The King’s Trust Gala
King Charles visited Harlem Grown, an initiative focused on education and healthy food in Harlem. He assisted a group of children in feeding chickens and planted lavender and mustard greens. Later, a glamorous reception for The King’s Trust was held, attended by the King and Queen, alongside celebrities such as Lionel Richie, Stella McCartney, Donatella Versace, and Martha Stewart. Lionel Richie, an ambassador for the Trust, praised the King’s historic address to Congress on Tuesday as ‘so brilliant,’ describing him as ‘A friend, giving advice as to what we should be doing, a wise friend.’ The King delivered a brief speech, thanking Richie for his ‘incredibly kind words,’ and light-heartedly acknowledged his busy schedule in the US, remarking: ‘I hesitate to make yet another speech because I think you may have had enough.’ In the evening, New York’s iconic Empire State Building was illuminated in red, white, blue, and gold to honour the royal visit, while the nearby JPMorgan Chase Tower building displayed a Union Jack.
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