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.
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The Big Question: How did a gunman spark chaos at Trump dinner?
DC prepares for royals arrival
Preparations are underway for the arrival of King Charles and Queen Camilla in Washington, DC.
King Charles will not meet with Prince Harry during US visit
King Charles will not meet with his son, Prince Harry, during his visit to the United States this week, ABC News reported.
Charles is not expected to see his son, who lives in California with wife Meghan Markle, or his grandchildren, Lilibet, 4, and Archie, 6.
The king has reportedly not seen his grandchildren since they came to the UK in 2022.
Melania Trump ‘very involved’ in state visit planning
First Lady Melania Trump has been ‘very involved’ in planning for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the White House.
‘Melania is totally across it. There’s lots of attention to detail, and she admits it has to be a great success,’ sources told The Telegraph.
The royals will head to Washington, DC today for the first leg of their visit to the United States.
King Charles US visit schedule
Here is what’s on the schedule for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s first day in the US.
- 12pm ET – Royals arrive
- 4.15pm ET – President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet the King and Queen
- 4.20pm ET – The couples will participate in a tea and beehive tour, then the royals will head to the British Embassy for a garden party
Royal security reviewed after White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting
Buckingham Palace said that security for King Charles and Queen Camilla was reviewed after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner on Saturday.
‘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,’ a palace spokesperson told The Guardian.
‘There will be some modest adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip.’
British Embassy gives a behind-the-scenes look at food preparations
The British Embassy in Washington shared a behind-the-scenes look at the food preparations ahead of King Charles’ state visit.
‘Chef is preparing afternoon tea for 650 guests, including Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla,’ the embassy wrote on X
‘Four kinds of tea sandwiches, scones, desserts, and several British flavours from smoked Scottish salmon to British Beef!’
King Charles and Prince Harry top list of Americans’ favorite Brits
American voters listed members of the British royal family as their favorite living Brits.
Topping the list: King Charles and Prince Harry, who is married to American actress Meghan Markle, followed by Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Coming in a distant fifth was Paul McCartney of the Beatles.
King Charles makes first US visit in over a decade
King Charles’ four-day state visit to the United States marks the first official state visit by a British monarch since 2007.
Charles has visited the US 19 times, but this is his first state visit to the country since becoming king in 2022.
His last visit to the US was in March 2015, where he met with then-President Barack Obama.
His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the US, with her last trip in 2007.
What will King Charles discuss in his state visit speech?
According to Politico, King Charles is expected to address the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting during a speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
His speech is expected to last from 20 minutes to half an hour, exceeding the 12 minute speech his mother Queen Elizabeth II gave during a state visit in 1991.
There will allegedly be no ‘substantive announcements’ made by the King, and the talk will feature little focus on policy.
However, a source close to the preparations told the outlet: ‘There is a feeling that the king can probably advance maybe one issue, so the question is what that issue will be.’
King Charles to attend 9/11 event with Zohran Mamdani
King Charles is set to attend a 9/11 memorial wreath-laying event with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday.
Sixty-seven British citizens were killed during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers.
However, Mamdani’s press secretary, Joe Calvello, told Fox News Digital the two will not meet privately.
‘The mayor will not meet privately with King Charles. He was invited to join a number of New York elected officials next week at a wreath laying at the 9/11 memorial with members of the British royal family,’ Calvello said.
The British monarch is slated to make stops in Washington, DC, New York and Virginia during his April 27 to April 30 state visit.
Insider reveals how Trump and Melania are preparing for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal visit as they’ll ‘keep calm and carry on’ despite security worries… and the one rule the President is bound to break
Nearly 250 years after America famously broke ties with the British Crown, King Charles III is still set to return to Washington this week to reaffirm the ‘Special Relationship’ between the two nations during a period of significant national tension.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are planning to arrive on Monday for their high-stakes state visit with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Following the security breach at last night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Buckingham Palace issued a statement confirming that His Majesty is being kept fully informed of developments and is greatly relieved to hear that the President, First Lady, and all guests remained unharmed.
The British ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, said Sunday that they are ‘Absolutely expecting’ the King and Queen. ‘It’s very British, keep calm and carry on.’
Key Updates
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The Big Question: Can a royal visit really fix a political rift?
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Why is this trip so important?
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What changes will have now been made for the State Visit?
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What do we know about the attack?
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King keeps calm and carries on
