Eleventh-hour discussions regarding enhancing security measures for an upcoming royal tour have become a major worry for Buckingham Palace. This particular assignment for the King and Queen is far from routine. The trip has already been marred by controversy, with recent dissatisfaction over whether the state visit should proceed. The chaotic events witnessed at the Washington Hilton hotel are adding to the anxiety of royal aides.
Following an incident where a gun-wielding intruder breached security in an attempt to access the hotel ballroom where the President and his entourage were present, Donald Trump stated during a hastily arranged press conference at the White House, “It’s a perilous job.” Trump’s safety concerns are evident, having survived two previous assassination attempts and possibly being the target of a third on a recent evening.
While specifics of the latest security breach are yet to be disclosed, the Secret Service has faced scrutiny for previous lapses that led to investigations and leadership changes within the agency. This poses a more alarming situation for the palace and places the King and Queen in an extraordinary position.
The intense political divide in the United States is compounded by the country’s troubling gun violence statistics. Royal tours offer an opportunity to engage with the host nation and its people, but the recent turmoil following the shooting, with armed guards evacuating the President and guests as police vehicles rushed to the scene, is a situation that should not dominate discussions just before the arrival of the royals.
While the full details will emerge in due course, can Trump’s commendation of the Secret Service and other agencies be taken at face value when a heavily armed intruder managed to breach security and nearly cause chaos? The royal visit has been complicated by the insistence of the government that the trip proceed, despite mounting challenges. The safety of the King and Queen should have been a non-issue in the planning of this tour.