King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in New York City on Wednesday as part of their closely watched diplomatic visit to the United States. The royal couple’s swing through the city comes midway through a four-day trip marking 250 years of American independence. This marks the first trip to New York by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2010.
Wreath-Laying at 9/11 Memorial
The king and queen are expected to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the National 9/11 Memorial, where they will meet with first responders and the families of victims of the September 11 attacks. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other dignitaries are also expected to attend the ceremony, which comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Queen Camilla’s Visit to the New York Public Library
Queen Camilla is scheduled to visit the New York Public Library, where she will deliver a new “Roo” doll to add to the library’s famed collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals. This gesture coincides with the beloved children’s character turning 100 years old this year. The five dolls currently on display—Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and Kanga—were the inspiration for characters in A.A. Milne’s children’s books. They were owned by the English author’s son, the real-life Christopher Robin, in the 1920s and donated to the library in 1987. Roo, in the books, was a small brown kangaroo and the son of Kanga.
King Charles’ Engagements
Meanwhile, King Charles was expected to visit an after-school urban farming initiative that works with young people affected by food insecurity. Later, he is scheduled to meet with business and financial leaders in Manhattan. The royal couple will then attend a reception for the King's Trust, a charity Charles founded in 1976.
Overview of the US Visit
The four-day trip is Charles’ first state visit to the US since he became king. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the US. On Monday, the king and queen joined President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House. On Tuesday, Charles and Trump held a closed-door meeting in the Oval Office. The king then delivered a rare speech before Congress—the first by a British monarch since his late mother in 1991—followed by a formal state dinner at the White House.
The monarchs are also expected to make stops in Virginia before wrapping up their US visit back at the White House on Thursday with a formal farewell from Trump. Charles will then travel solo to Bermuda on his first visit as king to a British overseas territory.
