Prince and Princess of Wales Visit Southport to Meet Victims of Knife Attack in First Public Appearance Since Princess Kate’s Cancer Treatment

Merseyside, October 10, 2024 – The Prince and Princess of Wales made their first joint public appearance since the conclusion of Princess Kate’s cancer treatment, visiting Southport today to meet with the victims and families affected by the tragic knife attack in July. This unannounced visit marks their first official engagement following the Princess’s chemotherapy.

The attack, which occurred on July 29 during a Taylor Swift-themed summer dance class, claimed the lives of three young girls: Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6. The attack also left eight other children and two adults injured.

Today, the royal couple met privately with the families of the deceased victims before proceeding to the Southport Community Centre, where they spoke with emergency responders who had been involved in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

Six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, all died in the attack over the summer (Picture: Merseyside Police/PA)

In a statement issued at the time of the attack, the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed their devastation, stating: “As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends, and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through.” Today, the royal couple’s visit continued their commitment to supporting grieving families and the wider community.

The incident shocked the nation and was followed by widespread riots in Southport and other parts of the UK. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the unrest as “far-right thuggery.” Leanne Lucas, a yoga teacher injured in the attack while trying to save children, was hailed as a hero by her family.

The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for a visit to Southport Community Centre(Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

The alleged attacker, 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana, has been charged with the murders of the three young girls, along with ten counts of attempted murder. His trial is scheduled for next year.

Today’s visit was Princess Kate’s first major public appearance since she announced the conclusion of her cancer treatment last month. She has spoken about the challenges her family faced during her illness, stating that they had to “navigate stormy waters and the road unknown.” The Princess, dressed in a long brown coat, was seen speaking with Peter Oliver, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, upon her arrival. Despite running 45 minutes behind schedule, Prince William apologised to the waiting guests.

Earlier public sightings of the Princess following her treatment included a brief appearance at Crathie Kirk Church in Balmoral, where she attended a service with Prince William, King Charles, and Queen Camilla. More recently, Princess Kate met with 16-year-old Liz Hatton, an aspiring photographer who is battling a rare form of cancer.

The Princess of Wales speaks with members of the emergency services (Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

During their meeting at Windsor Castle, the Princess was seen embracing the teenager, who later described the encounter as a “dream come true.”

In August, King Charles also visited Southport, where he paid tribute to the victims of the attack and met with the bereaved families in London.

A statement from the Royal Family’s official X (formerly Twitter) account read: “Remembering Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice DaSilva Aguiar. The King has been in Southport to express his continued support for those affected by the 29th July attack and the riots which followed.”

The unannounced trip to Merseyside was William and Kate’s first joint official outing since the princess’s course of chemotherapy cancer treatment ended (Picture: PA)

It is understood that today’s engagement was initially planned as a solo visit for Prince William. Still, Princess Kate chose to join her husband to demonstrate her support for the local community.

The Prince and Princess of Wales speak to members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport Community Centre (Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire)

As she gradually resumes public duties following her treatment, Princess Kate has expressed her determination to remain focused on her recovery and her commitment to “doing what I can to stay cancer-free.”

Yoga teacher Leanne Lucas tried to save the children from being hurt (Credit: Facebook)

The visit underscores the ongoing support from the Royal Family for the victims and families affected by the Southport attack as they continue to deal with the aftermath of the tragic events.