The planned state visit of King Charles III to the United States will proceed as scheduled, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday, despite a shooting incident at a high-profile event in Washington.
The attack occurred late Saturday during the annual dinner hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association, less than 48 hours before the King and Queen Camilla are due to begin their four-day visit.
In a statement, the palace said the monarch was “greatly relieved” that Donald Trump, his wife Melania Trump, and other attendees were unharmed.
It later confirmed that the visit would go ahead 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 American security teams were “working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place” ahead of the visit.
It is understood that the royal couple privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the incident and gratitude to security personnel who prevented further casualties.
President Trump said one law enforcement officer had been shot at close range but was not believed to be critically injured.
The visit, organised to mark the longstanding ties between the United Kingdom and the United States as America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, would see the royal couple travel to Washington and New York.
During the trip, King Charles is expected to make history by becoming the first British monarch to address the United States Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did so in 1991.
The itinerary also included tea with the Trumps and attendance at a formal state dinner.
The visit comes against a backdrop of strained transatlantic relations, with disagreements over the Iran conflict and lingering controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal casting a shadow.
President Trump has repeatedly criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, particularly over his opposition to the war as well as domestic policies on immigration and energy.
According to Downing Street, the two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, during which Starmer “extended his best wishes following the shocking scenes” at the correspondents’ dinner.
“He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,” the statement added.
They also discussed “the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” Starmer’s office said.
