Buckingham Palace confirmed Sunday that King Charles III’s planned visit to the United States will move forward as scheduled, despite a shooting at a Washington media event just days before his arrival.

The incident occurred late Saturday during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, less than 48 hours before Charles and Queen Camilla are set to begin their four-day state visit.

Palace officials said the king was “greatly relieved” that President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and other attendees were not harmed. A later statement emphasized that the trip would continue 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,” the palace said.

Earlier in the day, U.K. minister Darren Jones told broadcasters that British and American security officials were coordinating closely ahead of the visit.

He said teams were “working closely to ensure the security arrangements are put appropriately in place” for the trip.

According to reports, the king and queen privately contacted the Trumps to express sympathy for those affected by the shooting and to thank the security personnel who prevented additional casualties.

President Trump said one law enforcement officer was shot at close range but did not appear to suffer life-threatening injuries.

The visit, which will include stops in Washington and New York, is meant to highlight the longstanding alliance between the United States and Britain as America marks 250 years of independence.

During the trip, King Charles is expected to address Congress, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II spoke there in 1991. The itinerary also includes tea with President Trump and Melania Trump, as well as a formal state dinner.

The visit comes at a time of friction between the two allies, with disputes over the war with Iran and ongoing attention surrounding the Epstein scandal casting a shadow over the occasion.

President Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his stance opposing the war, along with disagreements over immigration and energy policies.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, during which Starmer “extended his best wishes … following the shocking scenes at last night’s White House Correspondents Dinner,” according to Downing Street.

“He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,” the statement added.

They also addressed broader economic concerns, including “the urgent need to get shipping moving again in the Strait of Hormuz, given the severe consequences for the global economy and cost of living for people in the UK and globally,” Starmer’s office said.

{Matzav.com}