Mamdani to encourage King Charles III to return India's Koh-i-Noor diamond

Highlights:

• Zohran Mamdani said he would encourage King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond
• The comment came during the monarch’s state visit to the United States
• India continues to pursue ways to reclaim the historic diamond
• The Koh-i-Noor is currently displayed at the Tower of London
• The diamond has passed through several empires over centuries

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he would encourage King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond. He made the statement during a press conference on Wednesday (29), before meeting the British monarch later that day.

“If I was to speak to the King separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond,” Mr. Mamdani said when asked what he would say to the King.

King Charles III was in New York City as part of his state visit to the United States. On Tuesday (28), he addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress. He and Queen Camilla were also honored at a state dinner hosted by president Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House.

During their visit to New York City, King Charles and Queen Camilla paid tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks. They visited the 9/11 Memorial and offered their respects. The royal couple also visited Harlem Grown, a network of urban farms that supports children and families in Upper Manhattan.

Mamdani met King Charles at the 9/11 Memorial during the visit.

The Koh-i-Noor diamond, which weighs 105.6 carats, was given to Queen Victoria in 1849 by Maharajah Duleep Singh. It later became part of the British Crown Jewels. The diamond was worn by the Queen Mother in her crown during her coronation in 1937.

India has repeatedly raised the issue of the Koh-i-Noor with the United Kingdom. The country has said it will continue to explore ways to bring the diamond back. Officials have stated that efforts will continue to find a “satisfactory resolution of the matter.”

The diamond is currently displayed at the Tower of London. According to Historic Royal Palaces, the Koh-i-Noor has had many previous owners. These include Mughal emperors, Shahs of Iran, Emirs of Afghanistan, and Sikh Maharajas.

Historical accounts trace the diamond’s origins back several centuries. According to records from the time of Alauddin Khalji of the Khalji dynasty, he acquired a large diamond during his invasion of southern Indian kingdoms in the early 14th century. It is believed that the diamond was taken from the Kakatiya dynasty.

The diamond later passed through various ruling dynasties. In 1526, Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, is said to have received the diamond as a tribute following his victory at the Battle of Panipat and his conquest of Delhi and Agra.

However, historians note that it is difficult to confirm exactly when or where the diamond was first discovered. There are several competing theories about its origin and early ownership.

Babur wrote about a “famous” diamond that weighed just over 187 old carats. This description is considered close to the size of the Koh-i-Noor before it was later recut.

For a period, it was believed that during the reign of Aurangzeb, the diamond was cut by a Venetian lapidarist named Hortense Borgia. According to that account, the cutting reduced the diamond’s weight to 186 carats. Borgia was reportedly fined 10,000 rupees for the work.

However, more recent research suggests that this account may not be accurate. Scholars now believe that the story of Borgia cutting the diamond was likely confused with a different gemstone, the Orlov diamond, which is part of the Russian imperial scepter.

Despite uncertainties in its early history, the Koh-i-Noor remains one of the most well-known diamonds in the world. Its ownership continues to be a subject of historical debate and diplomatic discussion.