The King has sent a private message to former President Trump after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, according to Buckingham Palace. The message, delivered on Sunday through the UK embassy in Washington DC, remains confidential. However, the BBC reports that the sentiments align with those expressed by the prime minister over the weekend.
Trump survived a shooting during a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voiced his shock at the attack, expressing his condolences to the victims and their families during a call with the former US president on Sunday. He also wished Trump and the injured a speedy recovery.
The shooting left one spectator dead and two others severely injured. The suspected shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed at the scene. Despite being shot in the ear, Trump continued his address, later describing the incident as “surreal” to the New York Post.
Trump is scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week, where he is expected to be officially nominated as the party’s candidate for the November presidential election. He has reportedly revised his speech in light of the shooting, aiming to “bring the country together”.
UK politicians continued to denounce the attack on Monday. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed her horror and anger at the assassination attempt on BBC Breakfast, praising the global unity in condemnation. Shadow foreign secretary Andrew Mitchell labeled the shooting an “appalling act of violence and wickedness” on Sky News.
In 2019, then-Prince Charles hosted Trump and his wife Melania for afternoon tea at Clarence House during a Nato summit in London. Earlier the same year, the late Queen Elizabeth held a state banquet for Trump during his state visit to the UK.
