UK says cooperating closely with US on security ahead of King Charles' visit

LONDON: Britain’s government remains in close cooperation with US security services ahead of King ​Charles’ visit to the United States this ‌week, a senior minister said on Sunday, after a shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner.

President Donald ​Trump and first lady Melania Trump were ​rushed out of the dinner in Washington ⁠by Secret Service agents on Saturday ​night after a man opened fire on security ​personnel nearby.

Asked about the incident on Sky News, Darren Jones, chief secretary to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ​said the British government and Buckingham Palace ​took the security of King Charles “very seriously”, with extensive discussions ‌already ⁠underway that would continue over the coming days.

“In respect of His Majesty’s visit to the United States next week … our security ​services obviously remain ​in close ⁠cooperation in advance of that,” Jones added.

King Charles and his wife, ​Camilla, are due to arrive in ​the ⁠United States on Monday for a four-day trip that includes a private meeting with Trump ⁠and ​an address to Congress, ​marking 250 years since the US declaration of independence from ​British rule.