Buckingham Palace confirm King's US state visit to go ahead as planned after Trump dinner shooting

The King's upcoming US visit will go ahead as planned after gunshots were fired at a dinner attended by Donald Trump, Buckingham Palace confirmed.

The US president and his wife, Melania Trump, were rushed out of the White House correspondents' dinner at the Hilton Hotel in Washington DC on Saturday night after gunshots rang out.

Trump latest: President rushed to safety after gunfire at dinner

The assailant, who reportedly opened fire near the entrance to the ballroom, was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. He has been named as 31-year-old Cole Allen, from Torrance, California.

An officer was struck but was saved by a bulletproof vest, Mr Trump said. Nobody else was injured.

King Charles is travelling to the US for a four-day state visit on Monday, with the incident raising questions about his and the Queen's safety.

But on Sunday evening Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip would still be going ahead.

A statement from the Palace read: "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 under way tomorrow."

It is understood there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip, but the overall plan remains as previously outlined.

The Palace said earlier in the day, at lunchtime on Sunday, that a "number of discussions" are taking place today with the White House to determine "what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit".

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson added: "His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed."

Read more:
The people who have tried to kill Donald Trump
What we know about suspected gunman

'King Charles is coming, he's a great guy'

Mr Trump told Fox News on Sunday that King Charles would still be attending despite the shooting.

Mr Trump said: "First of all, King Charles is coming, and he's a great guy. We look forward to it. He's really a fantastic person. And a tremendous representative."

Referencing the King's battle with cancer, he added: "He's got a problem with, as you know, very well documented problem with his health, and he's been amazing. Actually, he's very brave actually.

"And he's a friend of mine for a long time. So, he's coming, and we're going to have a great time. And he represents his nation like nobody else can do it."

The King and Queen are understood to have reached out privately to Mr and Mrs Trump to express their sympathies with all affected and their gratitude to the security services for preventing further injuries.

Darren Jones, chief secretary to the prime minister, told Sky News on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that UK security services "obviously remain in close cooperation" over the King's visit.

He said Sir Keir Starmer sent a message to the president this morning in solidarity over the incident and said British Embassy staff and other Brits who were there "are very grateful to the US Secret Service for the action that they took".

Mr Trump said on Friday that he intends to raise topics including Iran, ‌NATO and the United Kingdom's digital services tax when the King visits.

The monarch's ⁠visit will mark the 250th anniversary of US independence from Britain and he ‌will make stops in Virginia and New York, as well as the capital where he will deliver an address to Congress.

The visit also comes as relations between the ⁠two countries are at what some have been saying is their worst since the Suez ​Crisis in 1956, with repeated criticism ​by Mr Trump of Sir ​Keir Starmer over his refusal to join the US ⁠attack on Iran and dismissive remarks about Britain's military capabilities.

A number of politicians and commentators have called for Sir Keir to call off the visit.

(c) Sky News 2026: Buckingham Palace confirm King's US state visit to go ahead as planned after Trump dinner shooti