By Ayomide Otitoju
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the planned state visit by King Charles III to the United States will proceed as scheduled, despite a shooting incident at a Washington media gala.
The incident occurred late Saturday during the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association, less than 48 hours before the King and Queen Camilla are due to begin a four-day state visit.
In a statement on Sunday, the palace said the King was “greatly relieved” that Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, and other guests were unharmed. It added that the royal couple looks forward to commencing the visit as planned.
“The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the Visit getting underway tomorrow,” the statement read.
Earlier, senior UK minister Darren Jones said British and US security teams were working closely to ensure appropriate arrangements were in place for the visit.
It is understood that the King and Queen privately reached out to the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the incident and appreciation to security services for preventing further casualties.
According to Trump, a law enforcement officer was shot at close range but was not critically injured.
During the four-day visit—organised to mark the historic relationship between Britain and the United States as America celebrates 250 years of independence—Charles and Camilla are scheduled to visit Washington and New York.
The King is also expected to become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did so in 1991. The programme includes a state dinner and a meeting with the Trumps.
The visit comes amid broader geopolitical tensions, including disagreements over the Iran conflict and ongoing controversies linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer spoke with Trump by phone on Sunday, expressing relief that the US President and First Lady were safe and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured officer, according to Downing Street.
Starmer’s office said both leaders also discussed the need to restore shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz, citing its importance to the global economy and cost of living.
