This article explores the similarities between the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at his Pennsylvania rally and the near-assassination of Prince Charles during an Australia Day speech in 1994. Both incidents involved gunfire on stages, courageous reactions from the targets, and investigations into security lapses.
When gunshots erupted at Donald Trump 's Pennsylvania rally on July 13 last year, many attendees initially mistook the sound for a car backfiring. That was until the Republican politician was seen clutching his ear and forcefully pulled to the ground by his Secret Service agents, who swiftly swarmed the stage to protect him. As he defiantly rose back to his feet with blood streaming down his face, the stunned audience realized they had just witnessed a live assassination attempt on television.
King Charles, perhaps, understood the emotions of that moment better than most. Three decades prior, he himself survived an apparent assassination attempt. Just like Trump, Charles was delivering a speech, but he was at Tumbalong Park in Sydney thirty-one years ago today, commemorating Australia Day. The then-Prince of Wales was shot at with blank rounds – although no one was aware of that at the time – from a starting pistol by 23-year-old student David Kang in 1994.Charles, then 45, drew praise for his composure as he was filmed calmly adjusting his cufflinks while his bodyguards grappled Kang to the ground. Kang later revealed that he carried out this stunt to draw attention to the plight of Cambodian asylum seekers held in detention camps in Australia.Charles, now 76, was then 45 years old and received accolades for his response to the gunshots in 1994. Footage of the incident captures Charles reacting to the shots before Kang – dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans – charged onto the stage as horrified school children and other attendees watched on. The King's bodyguard, Superintendent Colin Trimming, can be seen shoulder-charging his boss out of the way before rushing back to assess the threat from the gunman. He then returns to Charles to stand as a human shield in front of him. The then Metropolitan Police Commissioner praised the bodyguard, stating: 'I take comfort from the fact that he was the first person at the Prince's side.' Within minutes of the dramatic events unfolding, both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana – who had by then separated from her husband for over a year – were informed. Charles had been about to present prizes to schoolchildren in front of a crowd of 20,000, but the event quickly became overshadowed as images of the incident were broadcast worldwide.Commander Richard Aylard, Charles's private secretary at the time, witnessed the moment Kang launched his stunt. He recounted: 'I saw this character running very, very fast towards the stage at the speed of a 100-meter sprinter. I saw him fire.' Student David Kang was arrested after firing a starting pistol near Prince Charles during an Australia Day speech at Tumbalong Park, Sydney, on January 26, 1994. Grainy photos and video from the incident show Charles remaining calm as Kang rushed the stage for his stunt. Afterward, there was much finger-pointing about who was responsible for the security breach, reminiscent of the discussions that would follow the attempt on Trump's life decades later. However, it was claimed that the Palace had requested that no police presence be positioned between Charles and the public. Terry Griffiths, the police minister for New South Wales at the time, stated: 'No one can take pride that an incident has occurred, but the level of security was agreed by all the agencies involved. His Royal Highness desired that level.' The discussion surrounding the security failure intensified immediately after the incident, as the then-active IRA had demonstrated in previous decades their willingness to target members of the Royal Family. In 1979, Lord Mountbatten, a significant influence in Charles's upbringing (his great-nephew), was killed by the terrorist organization after they detonated a bomb under his fishing boat. He and Charles were close, affectionately calling each other 'honorary grandfather' and 'honorary grandson,' according to Jonathan Dimbleby's 1994 biography. The brutal killing cast a long shadow over the Royal Family, leaving the possibility of assassination a constant worry. Robert Jobson later wrote in his 2023 book 'Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed': 'Understandably, Charles was profoundly affected by the murder of his beloved mentor and great-uncle, Lord Mountbatten.
Royalty Politics Donald Trump Assassination Attempt Prince Charles Australia Day Security Lapse IRA Lord Mountbatten
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
BofA’s CEO on Trump, King Charles and keeping the brakes on riskWall Street’s quiet man Brian Moynihan says lender will benefit from pushback against regulation
Read more »
BofA’s CEO on Trump, King Charles and keeping the brakes on riskThe latest news across work and careers. Extensive coverage across leadership and the future of work, interviews with industry thought leaders and business book reviews.
Read more »
Liberal Democrat Leader Urges King Charles to Withhold State Visit from Trump Until Ukraine SupportSir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has urged King Charles not to grant Donald Trump a state visit to Buckingham Palace until he commits to providing Ukraine with the necessary weaponry to combat Russia. Davey argues that Britain should leverage the allure of a state visit to influence US foreign policy and secure crucial support for Ukraine. He views Trump's potential return to the UK as an opportunity to demand concessions in exchange for the 'pageantry' and 'banquet with the King' that Trump reportedly desires.
Read more »
King Charles sends Trump ‘personal congratulations’ on his inauguration and praises special relationship be...President Donald J Trump makes his Inauguration Speech
Read more »
King Charles and Trump: Two Attempts on RoyalsThis article compares two assassination attempts on high-profile figures: Donald Trump's rally in 2023 and King Charles's incident during Australia Day in 1994. It highlights the similarities in their reactions and the public's shock at witnessing the events unfold live.
Read more »
Trump Jr. Visits Greenland as Trump Revives Talk of a U.S. Takeover of the IslandThe world’s largest island, which sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans and is 80% covered by ice, is an autonomous territory that’s part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Read more »