New Yorkers are getting a taste of the royal treatment today, and your morning commute probably paid the price.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have officially arrived in the Big Apple for a historic visit, and the city is already bracing for gridlock.
The royal couple is in town as part of a four-day diplomatic trip to the United States, marking the first time a reigning British monarch has visited our city since Queen Elizabeth II back in 2010.
While catching a glimpse of the royals sounds like a thrilling Wednesday activity, the intense security measures and rolling street closures are about to make getting around Manhattan a serious headache.
Here’s where you can expect some delays today.
Where are the royals visiting in NYC?
The royal itinerary is incredibly packed today, meaning traffic disruptions will be popping up in multiple neighborhoods.
The couple is kicking things off in Lower Manhattan with a solemn visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to meet with first responders and families of victims ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
From there, the King and Queen will split up to cover more ground.
Queen Camilla is heading to the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh by donating a custom “Roo” doll to their famous children’s literature collection.
Meanwhile, King Charles is heading uptown to visit a grassroots community organization in Harlem that tackles food insecurity.
Later in the afternoon, the pair will reunite for a stop at Rockefeller Center and a Midtown reception for the King’s Trust charity.
What to know about NYC street closures and MTA delays
With the royals zipping from Lower Manhattan to Harlem and back to Midtown, the NYPD is warning all drivers to expect heavy delays and intermittent road closures all day long.
CBS New York reports that security is exceptionally tight for this visit, especially following recent high-profile threats down in Washington D.C. earlier this week.
Barricades were already spotted lining the streets around the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue early this morning, so you will want to avoid driving through that section of Midtown entirely.
Local officials have not released an exact street-by-street map of the closures because the itinerary timing remains completely fluid to ensure the utmost safety of the King and Queen.
You can safely bet that the FDR Drive and major Midtown avenues will see rolling freezes as the motorcade moves through the city.
Public transit will not be completely spared from the chaos either.
The MTA has warned riders to anticipate sudden adjustments to the subway system, and above-ground bus riders should absolutely factor in extra travel time to account for avenues being temporarily blocked off.
Your absolute best bet for getting around the city today is to stick to the subway, pack some extra patience, and keep a very close eye on the MTA app for real-time service updates.
We will keep you updated as more specific street closure alerts roll in.
