King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla remembered the victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks during their visit to New York City on Wednesday.
The royal couple laid a bouquet of white lilacs, daffodils and peonies at the 9/11 memorial in lower Manhattan, where the twin towers of the World Trade Center once stood.
The towers were destroyed when militants from the al-Qaeda Islamic terrorist group flew two planes into them, killing 2,753 people.
A note accompanying the flowers placed by the royal couple read: “We honor the memory of all those who tragically lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and stand in solidarity with the American people facing such a profound loss. Charles R. Camilla R.”
The royal couple then met relatives of the victims and first responders to the terrorist attack.
“I felt very nice that I was allowed to hug the queen,” Antoula Catsimatides, who was among the attendees, told The Associated Press. Catsimatides’ brother died in the World Trade Center.
He said, “She was quite sweet, as was the king. I also told her I thought he was very sweet.”
At the ceremony, King Charles also spoke briefly with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and met with other local dignitaries.
Next, King visited an after-school urban farming initiative in Harlem that works with youth affected by food insecurity.
At Harlem Grown Farm, Charles planted lavender and mustard seeds and fed chickens while interacting with elementary school children.
Charles and Camilla on four-day state visit
The royal couple’s four-day state visit to the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence from British rule.
On Monday, King Charles and his wife joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.
On Tuesday, Charles gave a rare speech before Congress followed by a formal state dinner at the White House.
His speech mainly focused on strengthening Britain’s long-term friendship with the US, but he also discussed the need for a stronger NATO and help for Ukraine.
Trump claims Charles ‘may have helped’ with Iran
After Charles’s speech, Trump said that Charles III “might have helped” the United States in a military attack against Iran.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Kingdom for failing to engage in strikes against Iran and described Prime Minister Keir Starmer as weak and indecisive.
He feels differently about the king.
“King is fantastic,” Trump said Wednesday. “We spent a lot of time together. We talked a lot. We talked about this too, and he loves his country, and he’s a great king, and he’s a very good friend of mine.
“And I think if he were doing that, if it were up to him, he probably would have helped us with the Iran issue.”
The royal couple are expected to conclude their US visit on Thursday by returning to the White House with a formal farewell from Trump.
Edited by: Zack Crellin