King Charles’s security for US visit this week reviewed after Washington shooting | King Charles III
Buckingham Palace said King Charles’ security was being reviewed ahead of his state visit to the US this week after a gunman tried to attack a dinner with Donald Trump in Washington DC.
Guests attending a White House correspondents’ dinner Saturday night hid under tables as gunshots rang out as the president and other members of his administration were being evacuated by the Secret Service.
No one was killed in the attack, but a police officer who was shot while wearing a bulletproof vest was hospitalized.
It was stated that the suspect, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California, who was apparently staying at the hotel, was carrying a shotgun and a pistol. The suspect, who was arrested for allegedly attacking a police officer with a dangerous weapon, was detained by the police.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Sunday that Charles had been “fully kept informed of developments” and was “hugely relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests were unharmed.”
“As you would expect, a number of discussions will take place throughout the day with our US counterparts and relevant teams to discuss the extent to which events on Saturday evening may or may not impact operational planning for the visit,” the spokesman added.
Earlier, the prime minister’s principal secretary, Darren Jones, said the US and UK were “working closely to ensure that security arrangements are appropriately met” for the visit.
Asked on Sky News on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips whether there were extra concerns for the king’s safety, Jones said: “As you can imagine, the government and the palace take His Majesty’s safety very seriously and extensive discussions have already been taking place and this will continue over the coming days.”
Jones told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday that discussions regarding the king’s security during his visit to the US would take place on Sunday.
Asked if this meant there would be any strain on what was already planned, he said: “Appropriate safety measures will be taken in relation to the risk.”
The King will visit Virginia, New York and Washington DC during a four-day trip starting Monday to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. He will meet privately with the US president and attend a state banquet for him and Queen Camilla.
Charles will also attend the wreath-laying ceremony to be held on September 11 with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani in memory of the 67 British people killed in the attack that killed at least 2,606 people in 2001.
UK-US relations are strained following tense talks between Trump and Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
The president appeared to mock the prime minister in the style of a skit from the UK version of Saturday Night Live, which he shared on social media.
The king was also criticized for ignoring calls to meet Jeffrey Epstein’s victims after the royal family was embroiled in scandal when Charles’ brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of leaking sensitive documents to the convicted child sex offender while he was working as a trade envoy.
