WASHINGTON — King Charles began a four-day state visit to the United States from April 27 to 30, traveling as head of state and of the armed forces of the United Kingdom. The trip coincides with the 250th anniversary of American independence.

The visit follows an incident on Saturday evening in which gunfire interrupted the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and Donald and Melania Trump were evacuated from the event. Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the prime minister, told BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that further discussions about the king's security would take place on Sunday and that there would be appropriate security in place for the risk associated with the visit.

On Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Jones said the government and the palace were holding extensive discussions about the king's security that will continue over the coming days. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "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."

Charles's bilateral meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office has been organized to take place in private following a grip-and-grin photo call. His address to a joint meeting of the United States Congress will be televised internationally.

The itinerary offers few opportunities for the king and queen to come face to face with the public, with a visit to a block party in Virginia likely to be the only such occasion. If there are protests during the visit, the king and queen will be shielded from them.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna and Sky Roberts, the brother of the late Virginia Giuffre, urged Charles and Camilla to meet Epstein survivors. A palace source said no meeting will take place with Epstein survivors to avoid jeopardizing police inquiries and potential legal action.

Charles is also the king of Canada. Trump has publicly insulted the United Kingdom's prime minister and mocked its military.

The last British monarch to address Congress was Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, when she spoke about the importance of NATO and of how Europe could become more open, liberal and aligned with the United States. "Power that grew 'from the barrel of a gun' never grew well nor for very long," she said during that address.

George VI was the first reigning British monarch to visit the United States and met President Franklin D. Roosevelt to persuade him to enter World War II.