King Charles’s US state visit to proceed despite Washington shooting

The state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States will go ahead as scheduled, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, following a shooting incident at a high-profile media event in Washington, DC.

The palace said the King was “greatly relieved” that US President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other guests were not seriously harmed in the incident, which occurred late Saturday at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association.

In a statement on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen were “most grateful” to security services in both the UK and US for their swift response, adding that they were “looking forward to the visit getting underway”.

The four-day state visit, which begins Monday, is expected to focus on strengthening UK–US relations as the United States marks 250 years of independence. It will include engagements in Washington and New York.

During the trip, King Charles is due to become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The royal couple will also attend a state dinner hosted by President Trump and meet senior US officials.

Downing Street said Prime Minister Keir Starmer had spoken with President Trump on Sunday, during which he expressed relief that those injured were not critically harmed and conveyed wishes for a speedy recovery to a wounded law enforcement officer.

Security arrangements for the visit are being reviewed in coordination between British and American authorities, according to UK officials.

Tensions in global politics, including disagreements over foreign policy and ongoing geopolitical issues, are expected to form part of the broader diplomatic backdrop to the visit.

Source: Channels Television