The King has written privately to Donald Trump after the former US president survived an assassination attempt, Buckingham Palace said.

The former president was left with a bloodied ear after “multiple shots” were fired in his direction at a rally in Pennsylvania.

One person at the rally was killed – former fire chief Corey Comperatore – and two other spectators were critically injured, authorities said.

The gunman, 20-year-old nursing home employee and registered Republican Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by the Secret Service.

It was the most serious attempt to assassinate a US president or presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981.

The King’s message to Trump was delivered on Sunday via the UK Embassy in Washington DC.

Buckingham Palace said the contents of the correspondence will be kept private.

It is understood Charles’s message was in keeping with Sir Keir Starmer’s conversation with Mr Trump, in which he condemned the violence, expressed his condolences for the victims and their families, and wished the former president and those injured a quick recovery.

On Sunday morning, the Prime Minister said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter: 

Trump said he wanted to “bring the country together” in the wake of the attack.

He told The Washington Examiner, before an address to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Monday, that if he had not turned his head away from the crowd to look at a screen showing data he was using in his speech, “we would not be talking today”.

Trump said on his Truth Social media platform that a bullet had “pierced” his ear before he was dragged to the ground by Secret Service agents.

Trump first met the King and Queen, then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, during a royal tour of the US in 2005.

The two men were said to have developed a “good working relationship” following Trump’s state visit to the UK in June 2019.

Although the pair hold opposing views on the environment, they spent time together in deep discussion.

Trump and his wife, Melania, had dinner with the royal couple at the US ambassador’s residence, Winfield House, in London. They also met for tea at Clarence House.

Trump later told ITV that the meeting had been scheduled to last 15 minutes but continued for an hour and a half as the pair discussed climate change.

“He did most of the talking,” Trump said. “He is really into climate change, and I think that’s great. I mean, I want that. I like that.

“What he really wants, and what he really feels warmly about, is the future. He wants to make sure future generations have a climate that is a good climate, as opposed to a disaster. And I agree.”

But Trump said he pushed back on some issues, telling interviewer Piers Morgan: “I did say, ‘well, the United States right now has among the cleanest climates there are’.”

Trump and Melania returned to London for a Nato summit that December when they again had tea with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Clarence House.

At the time, it was claimed the former US president had kept the royal couple waiting for an hour.

Last April, the Telegraph revealed that Trump was to publish a personal letter from the King without the monarch’s permission.

The letter appeared in a new book of personal correspondences with world leaders, public figures and celebrities.

Written in 1995, the King thanked Trump for offering him an honorary membership to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

His letter was also said to suggest that Trump, a property developer at the time, visit his Institute of Architecture in London.

If Trump wins the US presidential election in November, the King will likely host him on a state visit to the UK.

“Coked-up” England fans have been accused of abusing and assaulting other supporters – including a 13-year-old girl – during the European Championship final.

Members of the England Supporters Travel Club (ESTC) shared horror stories from Sunday night’s game in Berlin on the group’s official Facebook page, with some even declaring they were “done” watching the national team as a result.

It comes after supporters were seen fighting with each other in the stands of the Olympiastadion during their side’s heartbreaking defeat by Spain.

Many of those reporting problems at the game had bought tickets in the upper tier of the north-west corner of the stadium only to find others in their seats who refused to move or large groups of men stood in the aisles in a manner branded “very dangerous indeed”.

One fan even claimed to have witnessed ticketless people getting into the ground. Others wrote of similar issues during England’s previous knockout matches, stating they had emailed their concerns to those at the Football Association in charge of the ESTC.

And some even warned worse would follow when Britain and Ireland hosted the next Euros if something was not done.

Ian Mitton from Norwich, a former armourer in the Royal Air Force, posted: “Special shoutout to the muppets stood packed on the aisle in 21.1 and 21.2. P—– up, coked up t—- who decide to abuse me and my Mrs because, shock horror, we wanted our own €300 seats. T—- who decide to throw themselves around when we scored resulting in my Mrs taking an elbow to the face. T— who decided to abuse me when I pointed out this isn’t Malta or Nth Macedonia etc sit where you like. Getting the picture yet? Entitled, ignorant t—, each and every one of them.”

His partner, Alison Holmes, also posted that she had been “bruised, shaken and sadly now done with football”, adding: “I am a tough old bird but admitted defeat.”

‘Absolutely ruined trip my daughter had been looking to’

One contributor Telegraph Sport is not naming for legal reasons replied: “I was in 20.2 with my 13-year-old daughter and we had the end of the aisle seats right by the entrance. Was all looking great until about five minutes before kick-off when the poor girl was absolutely surrounded by bald coke-heads basically trying to squash her and rub themselves on her. I confronted one of them and just asked for a bit of space for a young girl and he almost ripped my head off. 

“Couple of his mates held him back, but then he spent the rest of the first half right behind us making threatening comments and just being a d—. Absolutely ruined the trip that my daughter had been looking forward to so much. This is not my England.”

Paula Elvey, a make-up artist from Newbury, Berkshire, posted: “Couldn’t agree more Ian, had the same problem myself at the [semi-final] and have emailed them stating my real concerns, posted about this the other day and many of us are in the same boat I can assure you. This is a serious problem getting steadily worse – next Euros in UK? Free for all if something isn’t done. Hope your missus is ok.”

‘Not sure how much longer I can be bothered with the hassle’

Chris Cannan from Plymouth wrote: “That area in the upper tier 21.1/2 was very dangerous indeed.”

Andrew Senior from Sheffield added: “Not sure how much longer I can be bothered with the hassle either. Spend all that time and money to be surrounded by coke-heads and people who didn’t pay to get in (and yes, I saw quite a few without tickets get in) Security absolutely hopeless.”

Ben Stratford from Cheltenham wrote: “None of that in Qatar, Russia, Brazil, SA etc. The further away we go from England, the better. The next Euros will be horrific.”

Chris Baird, a former Manchester City director, had earlier posted on X: “England fans fighting each other in the first half once again showing there is a section of support who don’t deserve finals or these players. Disgusting experience, I will never watch England away ever again.”

Supporters arrested

It was confirmed on Monday afternoon that four England supporters were arrested at the stadium on Sunday evening, while “numerous” others attempted to enter the Olympiastadion without a ticket.

A statement from the UK Football Policing Unit read: “The majority of fans were well behaved at the final in Berin last night, with four England fans arrested in total. Two of these were for trying to enter the stadium with fake accreditation, one was for assault and one was for letting off a smoke bomb. There were also numerous instances of people attempting to enter the stadium without a ticket.”

The murder suspect accused of dismembering two men and putting their remains into suitcases lived with his alleged victims and had joined them on holiday in his native Colombia.

Photographs posted on social media show Yostin Andres Mosquera enjoying a boat ride with his alleged victims, who had been partners, in March.

The partial remains of Paul Longworth, 71, and 62-year-old Albert Alfonso were discovered after a man was seen “acting suspiciously” while carrying a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge, in Bristol  just before midnight on July 10.

Mosquera, 34, appeared in court on Monday charged with two counts of murder, having been detained by police at Bristol’s Temple Meads railway station on Saturday. Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard that the deaths of the two men had occurred up to two days before their remains were found.

Wearing grey custody-issued clothing, the Colombian national spoke to confirm his name and date of birth through a Spanish interpreter. The court was told he is accused of murdering both Mr Alfonso and Mr Longworth between July 8 and July 10.

Asked for his current address, the translator told the court that Mosquera said: “I do have an address, however I don’t know the exact details.”

He had been living with Mr Longworth and Mr Alfonso in a flat in Scotts Road in Shepherds Bush, west London, for a short time before the alleged murders.

Pictures posted on Mr Alfonso’s social media account show the three on holiday in Colombia on March 5, on a boat off the coast close to the city of Cartagena. Another photo, taken two days earlier, shows them sitting on a city beach.

Mosquera was also photographed by Mr Alfonso eating fish and chips in London in October last year, suggesting he had been in the UK for at least nine months.

Mr Alfonso, who had worked as a high-end concierge, had been in a relationship with Mr Longworth until recently. They had continued living at the Shepherd’s Bush flat, which Mr Alfonso had bought for £455,000 in 2020, although neighbours said they had lived on the street for 15 years.

On his Flickr photographic account, Mr Alfonso, who was a keen traveller, said he had posted thousands of photos “to leave a digital print of my brief appearance on Earth”. Some of his pictures were of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

He had worked for the Saudi royal family in the 1990s, and until his retirement had been the estate manager at luxury flats in Kensington, then run by Harrods Estates, and then by Rendall & Rittner, until retiring in 2019. Mr Longworth is thought to have worked at the same property business.

A spokesman for Rendall & Rittner, which bought the development in 2017, said: “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths of Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth, who were both valued former members of our team. Our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very difficult and distressing time.”

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Albert and Paul had previously been in a relationship and still lived together at the flat in Scotts Road, W12. Both victims were known to the man arrested, and he had been staying with them at the Scotts Road flat for a short period of time.

“We are making thorough enquiries to establish whether there may be any linked offences in the UK or overseas, but so far none have been identified. Detectives will continue to build a full picture of the circumstances, including any previous incident that may be linked in any way to this case.”

The Metropolitan Police said it had initially categorised the murders as a hate crime, but that evidence so far did not suggest there was a homophobic motive.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Andy Valentine said: “I know that this awful incident will cause concern not just among residents in Shepherds Bush but in the wider LGBTQ+ community across London. 

“I hope it will be of some reassurance that, whilst enquiries are still ongoing and the investigation is at a relatively early stage, we are not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the two murders.”

At 11.57pm on Wednesday, officers had been called to reports of a man seen “acting suspiciously with a suitcase” on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Avon and Somerset Police said.

A spokesman said officers arrived at the bridge within 10 minutes, but the man had already fled the area, “leaving the suitcase behind”. A second suitcase was located nearby a short time later. The property in Scotts Road was raided by police on Friday. Detectives later confirmed that more human remains were found.

Neighbours on the road spoke of their shock at the discovery. John, 77, who has lived there since 1984, said the victims had lived together on the road for about 15 years, and that Mr Longworth was a regular at the local pub.

Elizabeth Polmear, 48, said: “Paul had his little routine. He’d get up at 5am for work and then go to the pub on the corner for about an hour a day at 12.30pm. He was always happy and jokey. He was very friendly.

“It’s very very difficult to get my head around. It’s absolutely awful. You want to feel safe in your street, and that’s put the wind up me. It takes a lot to frighten me, but that really did.”

Immigration fuelled the biggest rise in the population of England and Wales for at least 75 years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed on Monday.

The population rose by almost 610,000 to 60.9 million between mid-2022 and the middle of last year – the biggest increase since 1949, when comparable records began.

The ONS said the growth was largely down to record levels of net migration, which stood at 622,000 for the year to mid-2023.

The impact of immigration was even more marked because of the negligible growth in the domestic population, owing to a declining birth rate and rising death rate as a result of the ageing population.

The number of births fell by 21,900 to 598,400, while the number of deaths rose by 24,000 to 598,000. This meant the natural change in the population – the difference between births and deaths – dropped to 400, its lowest figure for 46 years.

The data follow figures, released last week, which showed a 34 per cent fall in the number of foreign workers, dependents and students moving to the UK following a visa crackdown announced by Rishi Sunak last year to reduce net migration.

The figures, released by the Home Office, suggest the Government is on course to reduce immigration by 300,000 following measures including bans on foreign workers and students bringing dependents, increases in the skilled worker salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700 and curbing shortage of occupation visa schemes.

Net migration currently stands at 685,000 for the year ending last December, down from a record high of 764,000 the previous year.

Labour is expected to continue with the legal migration measures introduced by the Conservatives, although there is pressure for relaxation of visa controls from some within the party’s ranks.

The ONS data on Monday showed that 1,084,000 people came to Britain in the year to mid-2023, while 462,000 left, resulting in a net migration of 622,000.

The 610,000 net increase in the population that resulted from the immigration surge beat the previous highs of 584,000, 484,000 and 478,000 in the years to mid-2022, mid-2016 and mid-2011 respectively.

Prior to those years, the biggest increase in the population came in the baby boom year to mid-1962, when it rose by 461,000.

Cardiff, Preston and Middlesbrough were among the areas that saw the biggest population increases, of more than two per cent, in the year to mid-2023. Thirteen areas saw their population decline, including Merthyr Tydfil (-0.5 per cent), Rutland (-1.4 per cent) and Fareham (-0.4 per cent).

The baby boom areas in the year to mid-2023 – based on the population aged under five – were Mid Suffolk, West Suffolk, Melton and Luton, while those with the biggest falls. of more than four per cent. were Rutland, North Norfolk and the Isle of Anglesey.

Luton, Slough and Barking and Dagenham were the “youngest” authorities, with more than 8.5 per cent of their populations aged under five. North Norfolk emerged as the oldest local authority in England and Wales, with 34 per cent of its population aged 65 or older.

State schools are being flooded with new pupil queries as parents brace for a planned tax raid on private schools.

Schools in Surrey received close to 600 queries in just two weeks last month from parents looking to place children, the Telegraph has learnt. 

Surrey County Council received 582 email queries from private school parents between June 4 and June 19 asking about vacancies in local state schools, a Freedom of Information request showed.

The local education authority admitted the actual figure could be far higher as numerous requests may relate to more than one child and the figure does not include telephone queries.

The Government has repeatedly defended its policy to impose 20pc VAT on school fees, arguing the £1.5bn it hopes to raise from the levy will go towards 650 new teachers, a figure which equates to one new teacher for every three state schools. 

However, it has been unable to explain how the state system will absorb up to 40,000 pupils who, according to estimates from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, will be forced to move from private schools as fees rise. 

It comes after the former shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry admitted last month the Government’s plans to add VAT on to school fees would lead to larger state school class sizes. 

The Telegraph can also reveal one local authority has already discussed expanding capacity at two state secondary schools, as well as reversing a decision to reduce pupil numbers at another school, in discussions on how to cope with a feared influx of private school pupils. 

In a meeting last month, officials at Merton Council, in south-west London, discussed the possibility of up to 20pc of private school pupils being forced out as a result of the tax raid. 

A briefing note obtained by The Telegraph showed councillors had identified two secondary academy schools that “have more physical space than their intake number and could provide more places”.

Plans to decrease the intake of one secondary school by 300 places, a decision which would reduce each year group by 60 pupils, could now also be reversed to accommodate the extra private school pupils entering the state system, it said. 

The council said while it was hopeful it could accommodate the extra numbers in the long term, pupil numbers would remain almost unchanged for the next two years.

Damian Hinds, the shadow education secretary, said: “This just goes to show that hard-working parents are already paying the price for Labour’s politics of envy.”

Although the Government has made clear its tax raid will not come into force until the 2025-26 academic year, parents have already begun to pull their children out over fears their child will be stuck on long waiting lists for state places. 

As of the middle of June, the parents of 227 private school pupils in Surrey had already applied for an in-year transfer to a state school since the start of the year. 

The council conceded this figure is likely to be higher as it only records applications to change schools outside the normal admissions window, for example between year seven and year eight, rather than a traditional point such as between year six and year seven. 

Surrey has one of the highest proportions of private school pupils in Britain. According to Department for Education data from 2021-22, some 40,054 pupils attend private schools out of a total of 201,993 pupils in the county.

Analysis by The Telegraph found parts of Surrey, including the constituency of Runnymede and Weybridge and Jeremy Hunt’s constituency of Godalming and Ash, would be worst affected by the tax levy.

A forecast by Baines Cutler, an education consultancy for the Independent Schools Council, calculated that within five years of the VAT policy being introduced, 25.4pc of pupils at private schools would be forced to drop out owing to higher fees.

In Runnymede and Weybridge that would mean almost 1,800 pupils being forced out, but there is currently only space for an extra 887 places, according to data from the Department for Education. It means schools would be running almost 6pc over capacity. 

Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, called on the Government to answer how it would “protect state schools and families from the awful consequences of their tax on education”. 

He said: “In Surrey one in five children attend independent schools. With hundreds of families looking for additional state school places in this county alone, it is clear that, if enacted, Labour’s tax on education will cause huge harm – increasing pressure on state schools and their staff, reducing choice, and causing yet more disruption. 

“Labour needs to answer how they would protect state schools and families from the awful consequences of their tax on education. Will class sizes increase? Will children have to travel further to access a school place? Will they build on playgrounds? The costs far outweigh the suggested benefits. Labour needs to stop playing politics with our children’s future.

“Education and training should not be taxed and we should stand up to Labour’s politics of envy.”

Mr Hinds added: “During the election Emily Thornberry admitted their VAT policy would lead to larger class sizes, with state schools left to cope with the effects of Starmer’s class war, and this is now coming to bear.

“Labour should think twice about whether they want to proceed with their tax on aspiration.”

Munira Wilson, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesman, said: “It is concerning to hear of the pressure that state schools might be coming under as a result of these potential changes. The Conservative Party has already pushed them to the brink through years of neglect and mismanagement.

“We absolutely need to make sure that private schools are giving back to their local school community but we cannot risk putting even more strain on state schools already in crisis. Education should not be taxed and the changes to VAT should not go ahead.”

A government spokesman said: “Education matters and is at the heart of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity so every child gets the best start in life.

“Ending tax breaks on private schools will raise revenue that will be invested back into essential public services, including helping to deliver on our pledge to recruit 6,500 teachers.”

Surrey County Council and Merton Council were approached for comment.