The King’s security is being reviewed ahead of his state visit to the United States next week after a gunman stormed a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump on Saturday night.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was thrown into chaos on Saturday night after an attempted attack, which saw the US President swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents along with other senior members of his administration.
Speaking about the attempted attack, chief secretary to the prime minister Darren Jones told Sky News: “As you would imagine, with His Majesty the King, this week our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”
Asked by the BBC whether further security measures will be put in place ahead of the visit, Mr Jones said: “As you would imagine, the government and the Palace were in close cooperation with American counterparts in advance of the visit anyway, and further discussions will be taking place today, ahead of next week.”
Pressed on the issue, he said: “There will be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk, yes.”
He also said the prime minister, who has had an increasingly fractious relationship with the US president as a result of the UK’s refusal to be dragged into the Iran war, has sent a message to Mr Trump “in solidarity” after the incident.
“These are remarkable scenes. The prime minister has this morning sent a message to the President of the United States in solidarity for the events that took place”, Mr Jones said.
And in a statement on social media, Sir Keir Starmer wrote: “I am shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington overnight.
“Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. It is a huge relief that [the President], the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”
The suspect, said to have been carrying a shotgun and handgun, has been identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California.
He is understood to have been a guest in the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. He faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said additional charges will be filed.
The president posted pictures on his Truth Social platform of the alleged assailant handcuffed on the ground following his detention, and described him as a “lone wolf whack job”.
Mr Trump – who was attending the annual dinner for the first time as president – vowed to reschedule the disrupted event at a late-night press conference following the shooting, which he said had “unified” political opponents and the media.
The state visit, which begins at the end of the month, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and herald the start of celebrations across the US, with Charles and Camilla marking the milestone at a “block party”.
The first time Charles and Camilla will meet the president and the first lady will be at a private tea, captured by cameras only.
Later, Mr Trump and the King will sit down for talks in the White House’s famous Oval Office while Camilla and Melania Trump take part in an event together.
Buckingham Palace said it does not comment on security matters.
