The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit to Southport with the Prince of Wales to meet the families of the three girls who died following the knife attack this summer.
It is a rare public appearance by the princess – her first community visit since the end of last year and her first since her cancer diagnosis was made public.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that Prince William would be making the trip to Southport, but just ahead of his arrival on Thursday it was announced that Kate had also decided to join her husband.
In private they met the families of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, who died as a result of the attack at The Hart Space community centre in July.
A Taylor Swift yoga and dance workshop aimed at primary school children in Year 2 to Year 6 was taking place at the time of the attack. Eight other children and two adults were also injured.
The royal couple also met one of the dance teachers who was leading the session.
The visit is Kate’s first community event since her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Pic: PA
Kate and William also met with members of the emergency services. Pic: PA
It is understood William and Kate wanted to visit now to show their ongoing support for the families, the community and the first responders who attended the scene and the subsequent riots.
They met up with those members of the 999 services to hear their recollections of the day and spoke to police, ambulance and fire chiefs about the ongoing mental health support for staff.
The Prince and Princess of Wales meet a critical care paramedic from the Air Ambulance. Pic: PA
Kate said the personnel had supported people during their “darkest times” and added: “For you to witness that, you need support yourselves.”
One police officer told the couple how they had suffered anxiety following the attack and taken time off work.
Kate and William nodded as they listened to the workers’ experiences.
More from Sky News:
Tributes paid to girl who died in house fire
Community living in fear months after riots
Pic: PA
Referencing the meeting with the families of the three young girls who died in the attack she had attended earlier, Kate told the emergency workers: “I can’t underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day.
“On behalf of them, thank you.”
She told the personnel: “You’re all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don’t rush back to work.”
Asked how the families are doing, Kate replied: “They’re OK. They’re managing it differently. All the families are so different.”
Pic: PA
Pic: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
They’re “processing this tragic event [with] getting support from families and officers and things like that”, the princess continued.
“Being able to have opportunities to be able to speak to different people in the community about the experience and drawing that together and sharing their experience, I think, is massively helpful.”
Following the attack, the prince and princess issued a statement saying: “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.
“We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack.”
Through their Royal Foundation they also made a donation to the National Police Wellbeing Service’s fundraiser to help fast track psychological and physical rehab for police and ambulance personnel.
In August, the King met with some of the children who survived the attack and thanked members of the community for their bravery and spirit.
Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 years old at the time and has now turned 18, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
The visit comes after the princess announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch Kate’s family video in full
In a video in September, she confirmed she had finished her preventative chemotherapy, and while she would begin doing more work, she would only be carrying out light public duties as she continues her recovery.
Last week, she was photographed hugging teenage cancer patient Liz Hatton, and this year she has attended more formal and family events such as Wimbledon and Trooping the Colour.
But this trip to Southport is her first community visit meeting members of the public with her husband since the end of 2023.