Prince and Princess of Wales Visit Southport in First Joint Engagement Since Chemotherapy

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made an unanticipated visit to Southport, meeting with the families of three young girls who tragically lost their lives in a knife attack earlier this year. The visit marks the Princess’s first public appearance since completing chemotherapy, following her recent cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The royal couple privately met the families of the victims: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. These young girls were among those attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class at The Hart Space community centre during the attack last July.

William and Kate’s visit included conversations with first responders and emergency service personnel who attended the aftermath of the incident, as well as mental health professionals providing ongoing support to those affected. The Princess commended the responders for their efforts, remarking on the importance of mental health support for those who provided crucial aid during such a crisis.

Kate expressed gratitude towards the emergency services, stating, “You’re all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don’t rush back to work.” This sentiment was echoed in their earlier statement following the attack, where they conveyed their inability to fathom the anguish endured by the victims’ families.

Following the attack, the Royal Foundation made a donation to the National Police and Wellbeing Service’s fundraiser to expedite psychological support for the emergency personnel involved. The provision of mental health support for responders has been a significant focus of Prince William’s work, leveraging his experiences as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Amidst the ongoing legal proceedings, 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana stands charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder related to the Southport incident. The case is set to continue at Liverpool Crown Court later this month.

This visit also marked a gradual easing back into public duties for the Princess, who, prior to this engagement, had participated in limited formal events such as Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon earlier this year, amidst her recovery process.