King Charles issued a statement on 26 April addressing his state visit to the United States, set to take place from 27 to 30 April 2026, after President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were rushed off stage after gunshots were heard at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday evening.
A statement from a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on Sunday: "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.
© Getty Images"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."
HELLO! understands that Their Majesties reached out privately to the President and First Lady to express their sympathies with all those affected on the night and their gratitude to the security services who prevented further injury.
Reported gunshots at White House dinner
The statement comes after a frightening scene unfolded at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where gunshots were reportedly heard inside the Washington Hilton.
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe President was expected to deliver a speech, but was swiftly escorted out alongside the First Lady as chaos ensued in the ballroom.
According to early reports, there did not immediately appear to be any injuries, but the atmosphere inside the venue turned tense as Secret Service agents and law enforcement swarmed the room.
© Getty ImagesLater, a man suspected of opening fire was identified by a source as a California teacher.
According to reports, the alleged gunman is Cole Tomas Allen, 30, an educator from the Los Angeles area. Authorities have not yet officially confirmed his identity, and no motive has been publicly established.
King Charles' State Visit to the US
The incident occurred just days before King Charles' state visit to the US commences. On 25 April, new images from near the White House showed that Union Jack flags were being erected in anticipation of His Majesty's arrival.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking to Reuters ahead of the trip, Donald Trump confirmed that a wide range of issues will be on the table when he meets the King, including the ongoing Iran conflict, which has placed a strain on transatlantic relations.
"I’m going to talk about everything," Trump said. The state visit, which will also see Queen Camilla join King Charles in the US, will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from Britain.
