King Charles III is set to arrive in Washington DC on Monday for a four-day state visit, the first UK state visit to the United States since Queen Elizabeth II's trip in 2007. However, Buckingham Palace said Sunday it was "being kept fully informed of developments" after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening that has prompted last-minute reassessments of security arrangements.
A number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US 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," Buckingham Palace stated. The palace added that the King was "greatly relieved" to learn that President Trump, Melania Trump, and all other guests at the dinner were unharmed.
The shooting occurred during the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, a high-profile event attended by administration officials, journalists, and political figures. Video footage showed US Vice-President JD Vance being removed from the stage by armed officers moments after shots rang out. President Trump later told reporters that one Secret Service agent was shot at very close range but was saved by his bullet-proof vest.
US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said he was "very confident" the King would be safe during the visit, which will include Queen Camilla and feature events in Washington DC, New York, and Virginia. He told NBC News' Meet The Press there was an "all-government approach" to ensure the country's safety and that Saturday night's events demonstrated the US security system worked as intended.
What the Right Is Saying
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, speaking on the same BBC programme, said it was "vital" to ensure the King was properly protected and urged US and UK security teams to review arrangements overnight. He acknowledged that security for such visits is ordinarily very tight but emphasized that officials should conduct a fresh review "to make sure there are no loopholes at all."
However, Philp was clear that the trip should nonetheless proceed as planned. "It absolutely should go ahead," he said. "Violence should not be allowed to stop diplomatic relations and politics from continuing as normal." He noted that when Trump visited the UK last autumn, nearly all events took place within Windsor Castle's secure perimeter, with the president transported by helicopter in and out of what Philp described as a "secure bubble."
Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage expressed relief that all attendees were safe while making a broader point about political discourse. "However much we disagree about politics, if violence is used we all lose," he wrote on X.
What the Left Is Saying
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed shock at the incident on social media platform X, writing: "Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms." He added it was a relief that everyone attending the event, including the Trumps, was safe.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government and Buckingham Palace had been in "close co-operation" with US officials before the trip. "Further discussions will be taking place today ahead of next week," he said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey likewise condemned what he called "really shocking scenes," writing on X: "Political violence is wrong. We must all condemn this attack and be thankful no lives were lost."
Broadcasting historian Jonathan Dimbleby, a close friend of the King, offered a more cautious view to BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House, suggesting the visit should potentially be postponed. "Sound judgement is to deploy that asset, that soft power, at the right time," he said, arguing this was "not the right time" given what he described as the "uncertainty of the president."
What the Numbers Show
The proposed state visit marks several firsts and familiar patterns in US-UK diplomatic engagement:
The four-day itinerary includes an address to both houses of Congress in Washington DC, a visit to the 9/11 memorial in New York, and a wreath-laying ceremony honoring fallen US and UK soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The visit was already being described as diplomatically complicated before Saturday's shooting incident.
The suspect in the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting is expected to be charged in federal court on Monday. Acting Attorney General Blanche said the individual is believed to have been targeting Trump administration officials. Police reported that the suspect was apprehended at a checkpoint and had multiple weapons.
Prior to this visit, security protocols for major state visits typically involve extensive coordination between US Secret Service, UK Royalty Protection officers, and local law enforcement agencies. When Trump visited the UK in autumn 2025, almost all events occurred within Windsor Castle's secured grounds with minimal public contact—a protocol that may be adapted for the King's interactions with American crowds.
The Bottom Line
Buckingham Palace has made clear that while discussions are underway about potential adjustments to operational planning, no final decisions have been announced regarding changes to the visit's schedule or format. The palace described Saturday's shooting as a matter of ongoing assessment rather than an event requiring cancellation.
US officials have expressed confidence in their security posture, pointing to the outcome at the Correspondents' Dinner as evidence that protective measures functioned effectively under pressure. British ministers across the political spectrum have largely supported proceeding with the visit while acknowledging heightened vigilance is warranted.
What remains uncertain is whether Saturday's events will alter the public-facing elements of the King's programme—particularly his traditional engagement with crowds, which has been a hallmark of previous royal visits to the United States. Those final determinations are expected to be made in the coming hours ahead of Monday's scheduled arrival in Washington DC.