British royals begin US state visit amid security concerns

April 27, 2026 / 11:44 AM

Sharjah 24 - AFP: Britain’s King Charles III begins a four-day state visit to the United States on Monday, as transatlantic tensions continue over the Iran war, and despite a shooting two days earlier at a dinner attended by his host, President Donald Trump.

Commemorating historic ties

The visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla is intended to highlight historic ties between the two countries as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, according to the British government.

Historic parliamentary address and official engagements

Charles will become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The royal couple is also expected to have tea with Donald Trump and Melania Trump and attend a state dinner.

The royals will travel to New York on Wednesday, where they will visit the 9/11 Memorial, before departing on Thursday for Bermuda, marking the King’s first visit to a British overseas territory as monarch.

Security assurances after Washington shooting

Buckingham Palace confirmed that the visit would proceed despite the shooting at a gala the previous night, stating that King Charles was “greatly relieved” that Trump, his wife Melania, and other guests were unharmed. An alleged lone gunman was taken into custody following the incident, in which one member of the presidential security detail was injured.

Britain’s ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, said that after extensive discussions, authorities were “very confident that all appropriate security measures are in place” for the visit.