The King’s US state visit has “all appropriate security measures” in place, Britain’s ambassador to the US has said following what the White House has called an attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
Sir Christopher Turner said UK and US security teams had been planning the trip for weeks before the incident at the media dinner, with changes possible “as we go”.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit would “proceed as planned” after discussions were held on both sides of the Atlantic and advice taken from the Government.
Sir Christopher, who replaced Peter Mandelson following his sacking over new revelations about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, said: “The real point is that our respective security teams have been in close touch for weeks.
“And any operational changes we have to make, we can make them as we go, and we are all very confident that all appropriate security measures are in place.”
Security teams in the UK and US worked through the night assessing the state visit after the president was endangered when shots were fired outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening in Washington.
While minor adjustments will be made to one or two royal engagements during the trip, the overall plan remains unchanged.
The King and Queen are understood to have reached out privately to the president and his wife, Melania, to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night, and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.
Charles and Camilla will arrive in Washington on Monday for a four-day visit aimed at marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and strengthening the special UK-US relationship, which has been under serious strain in recent months.
The visit is the most important foreign trip of the King’s reign so far but now has the added element of increased security concerns.
It comes at a pivotal moment for the UK and US, with relations between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the American leader fractious.
Mr Trump has branded the UK’s approach to the Iran war “terrible” and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir – at one point describing him as “not Winston Churchill”.
Reports have suggested the US could review its position on the Falkland Islands in retaliation for Sir Keir’s lack of support for the war in Iran.
The monarchy’s soft power diplomacy is its strongest weapon in support of the UK’s overseas interests. There will be hope in Downing Street that Charles and Camilla can help put the UK-US relationship on a firmer footing.
Mr Trump appears to have an affinity with the King, saying when asked by the BBC if the visit could help repair strained transatlantic relations: “Absolutely. He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.”
The president and his top team are said to be excited by the visit, with UK officials not expecting any controversy during the four-day trip.
There have been repeated calls by US congressman Ro Khanna and the family of Virginia Giuffre, a victim of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, for a meeting with the King and Queen, but sources have previously said the couple will not meet them.
The legal implications of Charles and Camilla coming into contact with any survivors of Epstein, and the King’s constitutional position, make a meeting impossible while there are ongoing UK police investigations.
The historic visit, the King’s first visit to the US as monarch, will herald the start of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which came after forces led by George Washington defeated Charles’ forebear King George III’s army.
Mrs Trump has led the preparations for the state visit, and highlights include Charles’ address to both houses of Congress and the royal couple commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York’s Twin Towers.
The US leader and his wife will meet their royal guests when they arrive at the White House’s south portico on Monday and escort them to the state floor for private tea in the green room.
Mrs Trump announced last week the expansion of the White House’s long-running honey-making programme, including a new beehive shaped like the president’s official residence, and after tea the two couples will visit the bee homes, nestled on the South Lawn near the historic building’s kitchen garden.
Later the King and Queen will attend a garden party featuring guests representing the connection between the US and UK.
