Zohran Mamdani urges King Charles III to return Koh-i-noor diamond
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 5
Zohran Mamdani urges King Charles III to return Koh-i-noor diamond
8 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 5
The New York mayor made the remark before Charles's visit to the city, drawing criticism from the New York Post and praise in India.
The diamond, now in the Queen Mother's crown at the Tower of London, was taken by Britain after the 1849 annexation of Punjab and remains a potent colonial symbol.
Britain has repeatedly refused repatriation requests, while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have all laid claim to the gem, complicating any future return.
If the Koh-i-noor leaves London, which of the four nations claiming it has the rightful home?
With France returning colonial artifacts, is Britain’s claim to the Koh-i-noor now diplomatically obsolete?
The Koh-i-Noor Controversy: Historical Claims, British Resistance, and Future Scenarios
Overview
In September 2025, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly urged King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India, spotlighting the gem as a symbol of colonial injustice. This demand sparked polarized public reactions and diplomatic challenges for the British monarchy, while amplifying a global movement for the restitution of cultural artifacts taken under colonial rule. The diamond’s complex history, involving multiple claims from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, underpins Britain’s legal refusal to return it. However, sustained public pressure and moral arguments for justice are driving discussions about possible compromises or international frameworks to resolve this longstanding dispute.