King Charles III and Queen Camilla will proceed with their planned state visit to the United States, with Buckingham Palace confirming the trip will continue despite heightened security concerns following a shooting incident in Washington DC.
In a statement on Sunday, the Palace said the visit would go ahead “as planned” after what it described as “after discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day”. Officials added that there would be “minor adjustments to some of the engagements to further minimise risks”.
The reassessment of security arrangements followed an attack at a Washington hotel during the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, where a gunman reportedly tried to force entry and opened fire.
The acting US attorney general suggested the suspect may have been targeting Donald Trump.
According to US media reports, the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, was arrested at the scene. Authorities said a Secret Service agent was shot but protected by a bulletproof vest, while no other injuries were recorded. The President, Melania Trump, and other guests were evacuated safely.
The Palace said King Charles was “greatly relieved” that the US President, the First Lady, and others were unharmed. It is also understood that the King and Queen privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the attack.
Despite the incident, US officials moved to reassure the British delegation. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was “very confident” the King and Queen would remain safe during their visit, adding that Saturday’s events demonstrated the effectiveness of the American security system.
UK officials also weighed in on preparations. Government minister Darren Jones said appropriate protection would be in place given the assessed risk, while shadow home secretary Chris Philp stressed that it was “vital” the monarch’s security be properly safeguarded.
He called for continued coordination between UK and US security teams.
The Palace, meanwhile, said the King and Queen were “most grateful to all those who have worked at pace” and were “looking forward to the visit getting under way tomorrow”.
The four-day trip had already been expected to involve extensive security planning, including visits to Congress, the 9/11 memorial in New York, and a wreath-laying ceremony in Virginia. Some adjustments are now expected to these engagements, though details have not been disclosed.
Even before the incident, the visit was seen as diplomatically sensitive, coming amid reported tensions over issues including UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and broader disagreements on international policy.
Despite this, Donald Trump has continued to express support for the monarchy. He told the BBC: “I know him well, I’ve known him for years. He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man.”
Following the attack, UK political leaders also reacted. Prime Minister Keir Starmer extended “best wishes” to Donald and Melania Trump, describing the scenes as “shocking” and expressing relief that they were safe. He also wished a swift recovery to the injured officer.
Opposition figures echoed similar sentiments. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey condemned the violence, writing that “Political violence is wrong. We must all condemn this attack and be thankful no lives were lost.”
Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, also said it was a relief all attendees survived, adding, “However much we disagree about politics, if violence is used we all lose.”
