More than two months after a Taylor Swift-themed children’s dance class became the site of a deadly stabbing — in which three children died and several more people were injured — Prince William and Kate Middleton visited Southport, England, on Thursday (Oct. 10) to join the town in paying respects to the victims and their families.
According to People, the royal couple met privately with the families of the three young girls who were killed in the July 29 attack, as well as the dance teacher who was there when it occurred. Eight other children and two adults were also injured in the mass stabbing, for which a 17-year-old knifeman has since been charged with 10 counts of attempted murder.
The Prince and Princess of Wales also reportedly spoke with the Southport first responders who were dispatched to the crime scene about how the traumatizing experience impacted their mental health — a timely topic of discussion, given that Oct. 10 is World Mental Health Day.
“A heartfelt thank you to the people of Southport for talking about your experiences and honouring the young lives lost,” reads a message on Will and Kate’s official Instagram, alongside a video of footage from the couple’s visit. “In the face of tragedy, this community’s strength and resilience has been a powerful reminder of the bonds that unite us. As the healing continues, take comfort in the incredible support around you. Each shared memory, act of kindness, and moment of unity brings hope for the future and ensures that those lost are never forgotten.”
The outing marked Middleton’s first public engagement since announcing in September that she’d completed chemotherapy. Six months prior, the princess revealed that she’d been diagnosed with cancer and would be undergoing treatment.
Before the royal couple’s visit to Southport, Swift also met with families affected by the attack backstage at one of her August Eras Tour shows in London. In July, the pop star wrote that she was “completely in shock” over the tragedy in a statement shared to her Instagram, adding that the “horror” of the violence was “washing over [her] continuously.”
“The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders,” she added at the time. “These were just little kids at a dance class. I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
See clips from Prince William and Princess Kate’s visit to Southport below.