The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the town to meet emergency responders and the bereaved families of the Southport attack
Kate Middleton and Prince William are in Southport today as they visit emergency responders who attended the stabbing that killed three schoolgirls and injured ten others. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the town a month and a half after his father, King Charles, to thank responders and meet the bereaved families who were affected by the attack.
On Monday, July 29, emergency services descended onto The Hart Space, located on a small industrial estate on Hart Street in Southport shortly before midday to reports of a stabbing during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. As a result of the terrifying incident, Alice Da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King were killed, as well as eight children and two adults suffering injuries.
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In the weeks that followed, vigils and services were held across the town, with King Charles visiting on August 20 where he met with the families of those injured, the bereaved families and emergency responders who attended the scene and dealt with violent disorder that took place across Merseyside. Now, Prince William and Princess Kate have visited the Compassion Acts charity building on Sussex Road and Southport Community Centre on Norwood Road today, Thursday, October 10, where they paid their respects to the bereaved families and met Leanne Lucas.
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Leanne helped protect the children from the attacker while suffering injuries in the process. In updates from her friend Esther Shahroodi, it was revealed Leanne has been in and out of hospital since the attack but is believed to be on the road to recovery. The Prince and Princess have made the trip up north to hear about how the community has come together in the wake of the tragedy and thank those who have played a crucial role in rebuilding the town.
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During the King’s visit to Southport less than a month after the attack rocked the town, he spent time observing the tributes that had been left outside The Atkinson in the town centre before speaking to people from the town who had gathered to see the monarch. He then spent hours speaking to the families of those affected, members of the public and eventually emergency responders and representatives of the community at Southport Community Fire Station.
This is the first time Prince William and Kate Middleton have visited Merseyside since January 2023 when they officially opened the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Thursday, January 12. After being taken on a tour of the hospital’s critical care unit, the Royals met members of staff, volunteers, and members of the public in the foyer.
The Princess of Wales was given a bouquet of flowers by an NHS volunteer before they started greeting the crowds of people inside. Some people even got selfies with The Royals. This is not usually the done thing, as Royal protocol is said to not allow this to happen.