Princess Kate has made her first public appearance since completing chemotherapy, joining her husband, Prince William, for a heartfelt visit to Southport.
The community is still reeling from a tragic knife attack on July 29, which claimed the lives of three children and left ten others seriously injured during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. William and Kate aimed to show their support for the bereaved families, first responders, and the Southport community during this difficult time.
The couple privately met with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, along with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was critically injured in the incident.
After spending about 90 minutes with the grieving families, they walked to the Southport Community Centre, where they engaged with emergency responders and health practitioners who supported the community during the crisis.
At the Centre, William and Kate comforted emotional fire crews, police officers, and paramedics, with the Prince expressing gratitude by saying, “Thank you, you are all true professionals, look after yourselves.” The royals inquired about the mental health support available, with Kate acknowledging the need for assistance, stating, “For you to witness that, you need support yourselves.”
Referencing her earlier meeting with the victims’ families, the Princess remarked, “I can’t underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day. On behalf of them, thank you.”
The couple listened attentively as emergency staff shared their experiences, with one officer describing the anxiety he faced following the attack and his time off work.
Following the visit, Chief Fire Officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Phil Garrigan, shared that he had a “really lovely fleeting conversation” with the royal couple.
He noted, “The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to hug the responders because she could see the emotion in them and how difficult it was for them to express their feelings about the impact of the events. That shows a really caring side and is very, very touching for them.”
When asked about the families of the victims, Kate told the emergency workers, “They’re OK. They’re managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually, they are processing this tragic event in very different ways, but they’re getting support from families and officers.” She emphasized the importance of sharing experiences within the community.
William praised the emergency service workers, urging them to take their time before returning to work, saying, “Please take your time, don’t rush back to work. Talk about it and give your superiors a hard time if they’re not letting you have that time to decompress because it’s so important you have those moments.”
Shortly after the incident on July 29, the Prince and Princess released a statement expressing their sympathy for the victims’ families and gratitude for the emergency responders’ compassion and professionalism during the crisis.
Their Royal Foundation also contributed to a fundraiser for the National Police and Wellbeing Service to expedite psychological and physical rehabilitation for police and ambulance personnel involved in the attack.
