The monarch was enthusiastic about seeing an urban farm’s chickens

Britain's King Charles III receives a letter from a young attendee during an event at Harlem Grown on April 29, 2026 in New York City. In his first visit to the U.S. as the British monarch, King Charles III toured the nation's capital where he met with U.S. President Trump at the White House and addressed a joint meeting of Congress before traveling to New York City as part of a multi-day trip to mark the United States of America's 250th anniversary of its independence

King Charles in New York City on April 29, 2026.Credit : Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty

King Charles headed to Harlem during his and Queen Camilla’s day in New York City.

The British monarch made a solo stop at an urban farm in Harlem, arriving around 2 p.m. local time on Wednesday, April 29, and was greeted by Tony Hillery, founder and chief executive of Harlem Grown, a nonprofit that operates urban farms to provide youth development programming. There, he was shown by Harlem Grown members and schoolchildren from Thurgood Marshall Lower Academy around the raised beds, greenhouse, tool shed, composting station, chicken coops, bee hives and more in the middle of a city block.

At one point, one of the students had a compliment for the King: “I like your hair,” the child said.

“Do you? Good,” King Charles replied.

King Charles III with founder Tony Hilliery during a visit to Harlem Grown, a local community organisation and after-school initiative tackling systemic health, education and wellbeing challenges faced by children and families in Upper Manhattan by transforming abandoned urban lots into sustainable farms, on day three of the state visit to the US. Picture date: Wednesday April 29, 2026.

King Charles in New York City on April 29, 2026.Press Association via AP Images

King Charles, 77, was enthusiastic about feeding chickens — after all, he tends to the animals back in the U.K., and his flock lives in a coop dubbed Cluckingham Palace. Hillery had to coax the monarch away from the chickens to continue the tour.

Hillery was left with a special gift: honey from bees at Highgrove House, one of the King’s residences.

King Charles III helps to feed chickens during a visit to Harlem Grown, a local community organisation and after-school initiative tackling systemic health, education and wellbeing challenges faced by children and families in Upper Manhattan on day three of a state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla on April 29, 2026, in New York City. In his first visit to the U.S. as the British monarch, King Charles III toured the nation's capital where he met with U.S. President Trump at the White House and addressed a joint meeting of Congress before traveling to New York City as part of a multi-day trip to mark the United States of America's 250th anniversary of its independence.

King Charles feeds chickens in Harlem on April 29, 2026.Aaron Chown – Pool/Getty

After the farm visit, the King stopped to shake a few hands of onlookers waiting behind a barricade.

“I’m sure I’m ruining your day,” the King said, referencing the street closure that was part of the security measures surrounding the monarch’s visit.

While King Charles was in Harlem, Queen Camilla had her own solo event. The Queen, 78, celebrated the U.S. and the U.K.’s shared love of literature and her charity, The Queen’s Reading Room, at the New York Public Library, and guests included Sarah Jessica Parker, Jenna Bush Hager, Anna Wintour and more.

Britain's King Charles III greets people during an event at Harlem Grown on April 29, 2026 in New York City. In his first visit to the U.S. as the British monarch, King Charles III toured the nation's capital where he met with U.S. President Trump at the White House and addressed a joint meeting of Congress before traveling to New York City as part of a multi-day trip to mark the United States of America's 250th anniversary of its independence.

King Charles in Harlem on April 29, 2026.Angelina Katsanis-Pool/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in New York City on Wednesday morning after spending two days in Washington, D.C., to kick off their state visit. Their schedule in the capital city included a White House dinner with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump as well as King Charles’ historic address to Congress.