Buckingham Palace has said that King Charles’ security for his upcoming state visit will be discussed after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
The British monarch and Queen Camilla are set to head to the United States for a four-day state visit that begins on Monday but questions were raised after shots were fired at the event on Saturday night attended by President Donald Trump and senior members of his administration.
On Sunday, Buckingham Palace told Newsweek in a statement: “His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady and all guests have been unharmed.
“As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the Visit.”
Why It Matters
The visit, honoring the 250th anniversary of American independence, is intended to underscore the close ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, with meetings and ceremonial events planned with President Donald Trump and senior U.S. officials.
Its importance is amplified by it occuring during a time of strained relations between the Trump administration and Britain’s Labour government over the Iran War.
The shooting at a high-profile Washington event has heightened scrutiny around the preparations.
What To Know
A senior UK minister said on Sunday that King Charles would have “appropriate security in place in relation to the risk” during his state visit to the United States, after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner the night before.
Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the British government and Buckingham Palace had already been in “close co‑operation” with U.S. officials ahead of the trip.
Jones said that coordination would continue, adding: “Further discussions will be taking place today ahead of next week.”
He stressed that royal security planning was already extensive, telling Sky News that “the government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously.”
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wrote in a post on X after being informed of the shooting: “I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight.
Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that (President Donald Trump), the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”
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