The UK government is in heated talks with the White House over the King's security as he embarks on his US state visit on Monday - after a gunman tried to storm a Washington DC dinner attended by Donald Trump.
Chaos broke out during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night as special forces evacuated the US President and Vice President JD Vance from the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel.
The suspect who entered the venue wielding a shotgun and handgun has been named as school teacher Cole Tomas Allen, 31, from Torrance, California.
It is understood Allen had checked into the hotel as a guest. One officer was shot but was saved from serious injury by a bulletproof vest and taken to hospital.
Allen has been charged with assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but acting US attorney general Todd Blanche told press that further charges will be made.
The incident has raised international alarm and renewed fears about the King's Stateside visit in recognition of 250 years of the US Declaration of Independence.
Asked about the incident on Sky News, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief secretary Darren Jones said: “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.
“As you would imagine, with the visit of His Majesty the King this week, our teams are working closely to ensure that security arrangements are put appropriately in place.”
When questioned about extra concerns for the King’s safety during the state visit, Mr Jones said: “As you would imagine, the Government and the Palace take the security of His Majesty very seriously, and there were already extensive discussions taking place, which will continue over the coming days.”
Mr Jones told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that discussions on the King’s security during his visit to the United States would take place on Sunday.
Asked if that meant there would be any escalation on what had already been planned, he said: “There’ll be appropriate security in place in relation to the risk.”
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.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “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.
“As you would expect, a number of discussions will be taking place throughout the day to discuss with US colleagues and our respective teams to what degree the events of Saturday evening may or may not impact on the operational planning for the visit.”
Sir Keir said he was “shocked” by the incident overnight.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said: “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 @POTUS, the First Lady and all those attending are safe.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the incident was “an attack on democracy”.
Mr Philp told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “It’s always shocking when a democratically elected politician gets attacked in this way – it’s an attack not just on an individual, but an attack on democracy.
“I’m pleased, of course, that Donald Trump is unharmed and that the perpetrator has been apprehended.”
