King Charles will have 'very best security' for US state visit after Trump dinner shooting, says UK ambassador: Live updates

King Charles will have 'very best security' for US state visit after Trump dinner shooting, says UK ambassador: Live updates
By: dailymail Posted On: April 27, 2026 View: 248

King Charles and Queen Camilla will fly to Washington today to start a four-day state visit, despite security concerns after a gunman tried to storm a dinner President Trump was hosting.

Britain's ambassador to the US confirmed that 'all appropriate security measures' are in place, with the palace confirming the visit would 'proceed as planned' despite what the White House called an attempted assassination of the president.

Sources told the Daily Mail the monarch is determined to 'keep calm and carry on' – and that if the Government wants him to travel, 'that's exactly what he will do'. 

The royal couple were initially visiting Washington DC, New York and Virginia to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence - but also to help strengthen 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.

King will be 'very safe', says Donald Trump

Donald Trump has insisted King Charles will be ‘very safe’ after it was confirmed the state visit will go ahead as planned on Monday despite a shooting at a White House dinner attended by the President.

'I think it's great; he'll be very safe,' Mr Trump said in an interview on CBS News' 60 Minutes. 'The White House grounds are really safe.'

The President also said there was no indication from authorities that there were additional threats to himself or other officials.

In an interview airing on

Insider reveals how Trump and Melania are preparing royal visit... and the one rule the President is bound to break

Alison Cheperdak, a former Trump White House aide and founder of Elevate Etiquette, has been advising the Trumps on the intricate 'dos and don'ts' of royal interaction.

Read more here.

ROBERT HARDMAN: Can Charles smooth over the gaping chasm between our two countries?

Well that’s the conversation-starter sorted out when the King meets President Trump this time tomorrow.

For both heads of state belong to the same exclusive club: world leaders who have come under attack in public – and survived.

Read more here.

Queen Camilla to give missing Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed toy to New York library during royal US state visit

Queen Camilla will give a stuffed toy to a library during the royal US visit to complete its collection.

On Camilla’s itinerary is a visit to the New York Public Library, where she will view its permanent Treasures collection.

Roo, a character from Winnie-the-Pooh, has been specially created by a British teddy bear maker for the New York Public Library, which will receive the gift from the Queen.

Not for use after 25 May 2026.Undated handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of a the baby kangaroo stuffed animal, based on the original illustrations from the Winnie the Pooh books, which will be gifted to the New York Public Library by Queen Camilla during the State Visit to the US. The Queen will view the library's permanent Treasures collection, home to the teddy bears which belonged to A.A. Milne's son, which are believed to have inspired the Winnie the Pooh stories first published exactly 100 years ago in 1926, but not the original Roo toy, which was lost in an apple orchard in the 1930s and is missing from the collection. Issue date: Friday April 24, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Royal Household/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the
3CEMPKD Winnie the Pooh and Friends toys brought to the US by Milne's American publisher, E.P. Dutton, now at the main New York public libraryKANGA TIGGER POOH PIGLET EEYORE..

This is home to the teddy bears that belonged to Christopher Robin, son of Winnie-the-Pooh creator A A Milne, and which are believed to have inspired the stories first published a century ago, in 1926.

The collection on display currently includes Winnie, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga and Eeyore.

It is missing the original baby kangaroo toy - Roo - which was lost in an apple orchard in the 1930s.

TOM BOWER: Inside the Palace's decision to push ahead with King's trip to the US

Amid the unprecedented controversy surrounding King Charles’ first state visit to the US, all the coverage has focused on the diplomatic fall-out from Britain’s reluctance to support Donald Trump's war in Iran, the president’s contempt for Keir Starmer and the suggestion that America might dispute Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

But the question we should all be asking is: ‘What’s in it for Trump?’

Read more here.

‘Very best security’ in place for state visit

Sir Christian Turner, Britain's ambassador to the US, has promised King Charles and Queen Camilla will have the ‘very best security’ for the state visit.

Speaking to CBS Face the Nation, he said: ‘I'm very confident that their Majesties will have the very best security throughout the visit.’

He added: ‘It's going to be an extraordinary three or four days for us. We've been planning this visit for years. Really, it's the 250th between our two countries.

‘I mean a sombre background after (Saturday) night for all of us. But I still hope we'll be able to showcase this moment to make it the celebration that it deserves to be.’

What has Trump said about the trip?

President Trump spoke to Fox News after his third assassination attempt, where he confirmed the State Visit was going ahead as planned.

'King Charles is coming,' he said. 'He's a great guy, and we look forward to it. He's really a fantastic person and a tremendous representative, and he's brave.'

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: King Charles III (L) bids farewell to US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle on day three of the President's state visit to the UK on September 18, 2025 in Windsor, England. President Trump is in England from Sept. 16-18 on his second UK state visit, with the previous one taking place in 2019 during his first presidential term.  (Photo by Aaron Chown -  WPA Pool/Getty Images)

King Charles III bids farewell to US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle on day three of the President's state visit to the UK on September 18, 2025

The Big Question: Can a royal visit really fix a political rift?

Why is this trip so important?

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.'

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Britain's King Charles speaks during the state banquet at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump's second state visit to the UK, Wednesday September 17, 2025.    Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

What changes will have now been made for the State Visit?

While much of the King's itinerary in Washington will take place within the secure confines of the White House – where the couple are staying at Blair House, the president's historic guest house – and Congress, the visits to New York and Virginia involve much more public aspects.

The Mail understands that at least one tentative 'meet and greet moment' may now be scrapped – although some believe the King may yet ask for it to go ahead, subject to security advice, as a sign of solidarity with the people of the US.

A source said: 'There has been a close 'scrub' of operational details around some of the elements [of the programme]. It's a case of keep calm and carry on.'

The King and Queen 'are very resilient individuals and they will do their duty', an insider said.

In a statement on Sunday Buckingham Palace said: 'Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed 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.'

FILE PHOTO: King Charles III (left) with US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, before formally bidding farewell to the president on day two of their state visit to the UK, September 18, 2025.    Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

What do we know about the attack?

Suspected gunman, identified by authorities as Cole Allen, 31, of Torrance, California reportedly charged a security checkpoint armed with a shotgun, a handgun and several knives at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on Saturday.

Allen was tackled by agents after a brief but terrifying exchange of gunfire in the hotel lobby.

One Secret Service agent was shot but was wearing a bulletproof vest and escaped without serious injury. As many as eight shots were fired during the incident.

Despite the quick reaction of security services, Allen had managed to come within 100 yards of President Trump as well as dozens of key officials.

Mr Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Vice President JD Vance were hurried off the ballroom stage after the gunman exchanged fire with Secret Service agents.

Authorities said Allen, a Democrat-supporting, 31-year-old teacher had checked in as a guest at the hotel.

He is reported to have told officers he wanted to shoot officials in the Trump administration.

Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 25, 2026. DONALD J TRUMP via Truth Social/Handout via REUTERS    THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. REFILE - ADDING NAME OF THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER  VERIFICATION: Reuters was able to verify the location from flooring and windows that match corroborating footage. Date confirmed from the government statement of the incident. No old results were posted online before April 25. FBI confirmed that National Capital Response Squad has responded to a shooting at the Washington Hilton and added that the subject is in custody.     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

King keeps calm and carries on

King Charles has vowed to persevere with his State Visit to the US today despite an apparent assassination attempt on the President.

Sources told the Daily Mail the monarch is determined to 'keep calm and carry on' – and that if the Government wants him to travel, 'that's exactly what he will do'.

On Sunday, Buckingham Palace confirmed the King and Queen Camilla wanted to 'do their duty' – they are expected to arrive as planned on Monday afternoon.

However, an urgent security review was under way in light of the dramatic incident in the US capital on Saturday and some 'modest operational adjustments' will be made to 'a few elements' of Their Majesties' programme.

Read more here.

Key Updates
  • The Big Question: Can a royal visit really fix a political rift?
  • Why is this trip so important?
  • What changes will have now been made for the State Visit?
  • What do we know about the attack?
  • King keeps calm and carries on

TOP STORIES

Read this on dailymail
  Contact Us
  Follow Us
Site Map
Get Site Map
  About

Read the latest local and international news from trusted sources in one place.