King Charles Shares a Surprising Moment with 9/11 Survivor During Emotional Ground Zero Meeting (Exclusive)

The King met survivors and families at the 9/11 Memorial during his U.S. visit — and one moment left a lasting impression

King Charles visits the 9/11 Memorial on April 29, 2026.Credit : Jeenah Moon – Pool/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

King Charles met with 9/11 survivors at Ground Zero during his visit to the United States
Retired Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department detective Will Jimeno says the King was “genuinely interested and engaged”
A surprising question about turkey hunting became an unforgettable moment

When King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City on April 29, the moment was steeped in quiet reflection.

Nearly 25 years after the attacks, the royal couple laid a bouquet of white flowers at the edge of the south reflecting pool, honoring the lives lost — including 67 British victims — during a brief ceremony on a chilly but sunny afternoon in lower Manhattan. They stood in silence as “Taps” played, before moving on to meet first responders and families whose lives were forever changed that day.

Among them was Will Jimeno, a retired Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department detective and one of just two officers pulled alive from beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center after being buried for 13 hours on Sept. 11, 2001.

For Jimeno, 58, the invitation itself came as a surprise.

“I got a phone call from the 9/11 Museum,” he tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “They said, ‘We have a request… from King Charles.’ And I was like, ‘What?’ “

At first, Jimeno admits, he nearly declined — the lifelong outdoorsman had plans to go turkey hunting. But when he learned he could bring his wife, Allison — who loves the royals — he quickly changed his mind.

“It’s a big honor,” he says.

King Charles and Queen Camilla visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on April 29, 2026.Jeenah Moon – Pool/Getty

Inside the secured memorial, which had been cleared of crowds, Jimeno and other attendees waited as the King and Queen made their way through the site, led by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is the chairman of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

The couple first laid flowers at the memorial pool before moving through a series of small groups to meet survivors and families.

Jimeno expected only a brief interaction. What he got instead was something far more personal.

“It wasn’t one of those ‘shake someone’s hand and move on’ moments,” he says. “He was genuinely interested and engaged.”

Will Jimeno and Queen Camilla on April 29, 2026.Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Jimeno introduced himself and shared a bit of his story. Queen Camilla, he says, was “so sweet,” expressing disbelief at what he had endured, and then turning her attention to his wife, who had been seven months pregnant at the time of the attacks.

“She was very taken aback,” Jimeno recalls. “She said, ‘You were buried for 13 hours?’ She couldn’t believe it and said it was a ‘testament to the human spirit.’ “

When King Charles approached, the conversation continued — not rushed, but thoughtful. He turned to Allison, asking how she was doing and calling her a “pillar of strength.”

King Charles and Will Jimeno on April 29, 2026.CBS News/YouTube

“I mentioned to both of them how much of a fan my wife is of the royal family, and they really appreciated it. The King was smiling. He was very kind,” Jimeno says.

The King also asked about their daughters and how their youngest, Olivia, was after she was born following the attacks.

Then came a moment Jimeno didn’t expect.

As the conversation turned to the time he had recently spent with his daughter, Olivia, in Alabama, he mentioned they had gone turkey hunting.

Michael Bloomberg, King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 29, 2026. TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty

“His eyes opened up,” Jimeno says with a laugh. “He goes, ‘Turkey hunting? Tell me more.’ ”

The question caught him off guard — and left an impression.

“It really took me by surprise,” Jimeno says. “You could definitely tell it piqued his interest. He was genuinely curious.”

Jimeno says what stood out most wasn’t just the interaction, but the tone of the entire visit.

“They took the time,” he says. “I was told it might be 30 minutes, but it ended up being closer to an hour. They really listened.”

Will Jimeno, Queen Elizabeth and King Charles on April 29, 2026.Yuki Iwamura – Pool/Getty

That effort extended to others gathered that day — fellow first responders, families of victims and officials — many of whom shared stories from Sept. 11 and its lasting impact.

“There was a real energy in the air,” Jimeno says. “And it came from how they treated us.”

He also presented Queen Camilla with a small token: a Port Authority Police gold shield pin, honoring the 37 officers from his department who died in the attacks — the most of any law enforcement agency that day.

“She was very appreciative,” he says. “She said it meant a lot and thanked me for giving it to her.”

For Jimeno — who has spent years sharing his story through speaking engagements and books — the visit was more than ceremonial.

“It was sincere,” he says.

Michael Bloomberg, King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 29, 2026.Pool/Getty 

The King and Queen’s historic U.S. visit, he adds, also underscored something broader: the enduring relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.

“We might have started as foes,” he says, “but we’re very, very strong friends today. We’re unbreakable.”

And for one afternoon at Ground Zero, that connection felt personal.

“I never thought I would meet a king or a queen,” Jimeno says. “But what I’ll remember most is their kindness.”

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