On the third day of their four-day official state visit to the United States, Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla participated in a solemn, highly secured commemoration at New York City’s 9/11 Memorial, marking the royal couple’s first visit to the site that honors the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Against a backdrop of bright New York sunlight, with the memorial’s iconic reflecting pools framed by Manhattan’s towering skyscrapers, the pair laid a bouquet of white roses alongside a handwritten note signed by both royals. The message paid lasting tribute to those killed in the atrocity, reading: “We honour the memory for 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.”
The commemorative event unfolded under extraordinary security measures. A large contingent of local law enforcement deployed across the area, implementing road closures, manned checkpoints, and maintaining constant air coverage with circling helicopters to secure the visit.
Following the floral tribute, King Charles and Queen Camilla held private meetings with family members of 9/11 victims, and spoke with first responders who led rescue efforts at the World Trade Center site in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. Dignitaries including current New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former mayor Michael Bloomberg joined the royals for the occasion, alongside representatives from victim support charities and educational organizations tasked with preserving the memory of the 2001 attacks for future generations.
The tribute to 9/11 victims built on remarks King Charles delivered days earlier during a historic address to the U.S. Congress. In that speech, the monarch framed the 2001 attacks as a defining global tragedy, noting that “This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world.” He highlighted the collective NATO response that saw allied nations rally to support the U.S. in the wake of the attacks, drawing a parallel to the unified resolve NATO must maintain today to defend Ukraine against invasion.
Beyond the solemn commemorative activities, the state visit’s New York leg included more lighthearted, culturally focused engagements. Long an advocate for global literacy and reading access through her Queen’s Reading Room initiative, Queen Camilla brought a special gift for the New York Public Library: a handcrafted replacement for Roo, the long-lost Winnie the Pooh character that was part of the original set of 1920s stuffed toys that inspired A.A. Milne’s beloved children’s stories. The original set has been on display at the library since 1987, but Roo went missing in the 1930s; the new replica was produced by the same British firm that crafted the original toys.
Vicki Perrin, CEO of the Queen’s Reading Room charity, joined the royal delegation in New York and used the visit to draw attention to what the organization calls a growing global “reading crisis.” Perrin emphasized that expanding literacy access delivers transformative, far-reaching benefits: “improving rates of literacy and reading has transformative benefits on mental health, brain health and social health.”
Later the same day, King Charles traveled to Harlem to tour a community initiative focused on expanding access to education and healthy food for local residents. To cap off the day’s events, the royal couple attended a reception celebrating the U.K. and U.S. creative industries, which was set to draw dozens of high-profile figures from film, music, art, and design.