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Remembering King Charles III's visit to Cleveland and the mystery tree at Public Square

While visiting Cleveland in 1977, then-Prince Charles planted a ceremonial tree. But after renovations at Public Square, the tree's existence is a mystery.

CLEVELAND — In October 1977, the then-Prince Charles visited Cleveland and toured the city.

"When Charles arrived in Public Square an enormous crowd was waiting," said former 3News videographer Larry Baker.

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It was while now King Charles III was in Public Square that he planted a ceremonial royal tree, but after renovations the tree's existence is a mystery.

Baker, who was a videographer at 3News from 1965 to 2010, said he thinks the city "chopped it down with a chainsaw."

Crowds gathered around Charles as he planted the tree in Public Square, but according to a 3News reporter, they could only see the tree.

"There was no problem seeing the tree," the reporter said. "But the crush of reporters and spectators was so great it was almost impossible to see Charles," said the reporter.

3News reached out to several places to find out what happened to the tree after renovations, but ran into several dead ends.

"I'm not even sure it exists anymore, I'm really not," said Baker.

Baker told 3News he had hoped the tree would be here today as the once Prince is now the King.

"The energy, the excitement that we were gonna have a tree that the future King planted on our public square was quite the deal," said Baker.

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