Review of security underway ahead of King's already high-stakes visit to USA

As if the King’s state visit to the USA this week didn’t have enough riding on it, there is now a security review underway before King Charles and Queen Camilla touch down in Washington on Monday.

The events at the gala dinner on Saturday night have led to what Buckingham Palace called “a number of discussions” taking place between those in charge of security for the UK and the US sides.

The much-anticipated state visit is happening at a time of tense relations between the two countries after Donald Trump launched the war in Iran and has repeatedly lashed out at the British Prime Minister for not supporting the US/Israeli offensive.

Both the King and Queen have been in touch privately with the President and First Lady since they were evacuated from the Hilton hotel in Washington DC after a suspected shooter managed to get passed the first ring of security.

In Washington, Charles and Camilla are due to base themselves at Blair House for the duration of their stay, which is close to the White House.

King Charles is scheduled to have five face-to-face meetings over the four-day official visit, which is the first state visit the White House has hosted since the start of the second Trump administration.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "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," the palace statement concluded.

But this week’s trip comes at a time when the US President has been persistently mocking the state of the British military and the Royal Navy’s capabilities.

What he might not know, or hasn't been informed, is that members of the UK armed forces swear an allegiance to the Monarch and therefore Trump is indirectly offending the King, who is the nominal head of the British military.

King Charles will meet Trump as one Head of State to another, but the crucial difference is that the British Monarch does not hold executive power and is not in charge of government decisions.

But Downing Street has concluded the risk is worth taking and has kept the state visit on track, despite the strain in relations.

It is the British government which decides on the King’s official visits overseas based on its priorities, so the decision to cancel never rested with Charles himself.

So, he is doing what he has been asked to do by Sir Keir Starmer and meet with President Trump to hold talks on a level no prime minister could achieve.

But despite the already high-stakes visit, it is now taking place against the backdrop of a security review after Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated from the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association on Saturday.

Senior Palace aides are braced for an unpredictable week. Royal planners have stripped out as much jeopardy as they could.

There will be no TV cameras inside the Oval Office for example when King Charles and President Trump hold their bilateral meeting, so reporters can’t shout potentially awkward questions in front of the King.

But no one can predict what Trump might do or say in his speeches or on social media during the 4 days when the King and Queen are in the country.

A source who is very close to the King told ITV News last week, “if anyone can talk some sense into President Trump” then King Charles “can”, they said.

And yet, despite hosting President Trump for a second “unprecedented" state visit in the UK last year, it hasn’t stopped Trump talking negatively - and very publicly - about the British Prime Minister and UK government.

The White House has said that First Lady Melania Trump "led the preparations for the state visit, which will honour the longstanding and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom as the American people mark 250 years of independence.”

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And whatever the political temperature at this time, which is decidedly cold, royal officials keep pointing to the importance of marking the big quarter of a century moment of American independence.

After flying into Washington on Monday afternoon, the King and Queen will arrive at the South Portico of the White House.

The President and First Lady will take their guests "to the State Floor where they will sit for tea in the Green Room” according to a White House statement.

They will also get a tour of the "newly unveiled and expanded White House Beehive” on the South Lawn which is likely to interest the King and Queen much more than Trump, given King Charles’ interest in nature and biodiversity.

But that beehive visit is no guarantee there won’t be a sting in the tail for the British at some point during this official trip.

UK diplomats and senior royals, in both London and Washington DC, are holding their collective breath.

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