Buckingham Palace said Sunday it is in ongoing talks with U.S. officials over the impact of Saturday’s shooting in Washington on King Charles III’s visit this week to the U.S., after the incident raised security concerns just days before the trip.
A palace spokesperson said in a statement that the King was being “kept fully informed” and was “greatly relieved” that U.S. President Donald Trump and other dignitaries at the gala dinner in the U.S. capital were unharmed.
“As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with U.S. 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,” the spokesperson said.
The King and Queen are due to travel to the U.S. April 27-30 for a state visit aimed at celebrating long-standing ties as the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary. The trip — the first British state visit to the U.S. since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 — is expected to include a White House banquet and a rare address to Congress.
Those plans are now under fresh scrutiny after a gunman stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night, triggering panic as Trump and senior officials were rushed from the venue. Authorities said a lone attacker armed with a shotgun and other weapons breached a security checkpoint and exchanged fire with law enforcement officers, leaving one Secret Service member injured.
British embassy officials in Washington who are in communication with Capitol Hill leadership staff have said they are assessing the situation for Tuesday, when Charles is scheduled to address the U.S. Congress, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. Capitol Hill leadership circles are also discussing heightened security protocols, according to those two people and four others.
Buckingham Palace said King Charles had privately expressed his sympathies to Trump and his gratitude to security services for preventing further harm.
The King’s visit to the U.S. comes against a worsening rift over the Iran war. Trump in March warned the U.K. that “the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore,” after Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to deploy forces. Starmer later reiterated: “This is not our war.”
Dan Bloom and Meredith Lee Hill contributed reporting.