When King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City during their historic U.S. visit, the atmosphere was heavy with emotion, remembrance, and quiet reflection.
Nearly twenty-five years after the devastating attacks of September 11 attacks, the royal couple paused beside the south reflecting pool at Ground Zero and laid a bouquet of white flowers in memory of those who lost their lives — including 67 British victims killed that tragic day.
But for one survivor standing among the invited guests, the visit became far more personal than he ever imagined.
Will Jimeno, a retired Port Authority police detective who survived being buried beneath the World Trade Center rubble for 13 hours, says he expected only a brief ceremonial interaction with the King and Queen.
Instead, he walked away deeply moved by their warmth, curiosity, and sincerity.
Jimeno, now 58, was one of only two Port Authority officers pulled alive from the wreckage after the towers collapsed in 2001.
Speaking afterward, he revealed that the invitation itself came as a complete shock.
“I got a phone call from the 9/11 Museum,” he recalled. “They said, ‘We have a request… from King Charles.’ And I was like, what?”
At first, Jimeno almost turned the invitation down because he had planned a turkey hunting trip. But once he realized his wife Allison — a longtime admirer of the royal family — could accompany him, he quickly changed his mind.
Inside the secured memorial site, the royal couple moved quietly through small groups of survivors, first responders, and families forever impacted by the attacks.
Jimeno expected a quick handshake and polite greeting.
What happened instead surprised him.
“It wasn’t one of those ‘shake someone’s hand and move on’ moments,” he explained. “He was genuinely interested and engaged.”
Queen Camilla reportedly became emotional hearing about Jimeno’s survival ordeal and his wife’s pregnancy during the attacks.
“She was very taken aback,” Jimeno said. “She couldn’t believe I had been buried for 13 hours.”
The Queen reportedly called his survival “a testament to the human spirit.”
Then came the moment that left the retired detective stunned.
As Jimeno described spending time recently with his daughter Olivia in Alabama, he casually mentioned they had gone turkey hunting together.
Suddenly, King Charles lit up.
“Turkey hunting? Tell me more,” the King reportedly asked with genuine curiosity.
Jimeno admitted he never expected the monarch to become fascinated by the subject.
“His eyes opened up,” he recalled with a laugh. “It really took me by surprise.”
The unexpected conversation instantly transformed the formal meeting into something far more human and memorable.
Jimeno said what struck him most was not the symbolism of meeting royalty, but the amount of time and attention the King and Queen gave everyone present.
“They took the time,” he said. “They really listened.”
The emotional visit lasted far longer than expected, stretching close to an hour as survivors and families shared painful memories and stories of resilience.
Jimeno also presented Queen Camilla with a meaningful gift: a Port Authority Police gold shield pin honoring the 37 officers from his department who lost their lives during the attacks — the largest law enforcement loss suffered that day.
“She was very appreciative,” he said. “She said it meant a lot.”
For many attendees, the royal visit became more than a diplomatic appearance.
It served as a reminder of the enduring bond between the United States and the United Kingdom — two nations forever connected through tragedy, remembrance, and shared history.
“We might have started as foes,” Jimeno reflected, “but we’re very, very strong friends today. We’re unbreakable.”
And for one unforgettable afternoon at Ground Zero, a simple conversation about survival, family, and turkey hunting became a moment he says he will never forget.