Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales are currently in Southport, Merseyside, showing their continued support to the community following the devastating stabbings that occurred last year. The royal couple is visiting Southport to honor the memory of the three young victims – Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar, and Bebe King – and to acknowledge the strength and resilience of the community that has been left forever changed by this tragedy. The attack, carried out by then-17-year-old Axel Rudakubana during a children’s dance class on July 29, 2024, resulted in the heartbreaking deaths of the three girls, while leaving ten others injured. The emotional toll of the event has been felt deeply throughout Southport, and the Royal Highnesses have returned to the town to continue offering their support.
This visit is not their first to Southport following the attack. In October 2024, William and Kate made an unannounced visit to the town, where they met with the bereaved families of the victims, as well as the emergency responders who were first on the scene. Their presence then was a comforting reminder that the community had not been forgotten. The visit provided an opportunity for the royal couple to witness firsthand the collective strength and solidarity of the people of Southport as they began the long and painful journey of healing.
During this latest visit, the Prince and Princess of Wales focused their attention on the newly created memorial playground at Churchtown Primary School. This space was designed to honor the memory of Alice and Bebe, and was the result of a fundraising initiative that gathered over £374,000 in donations. Prince William and Kate visited the school to view the playground, which stands as a symbol of both the joy that Alice and Bebe brought to their peers and the resilience of the entire community. In a heartfelt conversation with Alice’s parents, Sergio and Alex Aguiar, and Bebe’s parents, Lauren and Ben King, the royal couple expressed their admiration for the families’ strength in the face of unimaginable loss.
As Prince William addressed the pupils and staff at Churchtown Primary, he acknowledged the immense challenges the community had faced since the tragic attack. In his speech, he praised the local school’s efforts to support the children, staff, and families who were deeply affected by the events. “This playground is a symbol of how the community has come together to create such a positive place for the pupils of this school,” William said. He emphasized that the space represented more than just a memorial but also a place of remembrance, resilience, and hope for the future.
In addition to visiting Churchtown Primary, William and Kate made time to speak with the students at Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie Dot Stancombe had been a pupil. The couple engaged in heartfelt conversations with both students and teachers, asking them about their experiences and how they had coped with the aftermath of the attack. The children were understandably nervous at first, but William’s warmth and kindness quickly put them at ease, allowing for genuine and uplifting exchanges.
William’s speech and the conversations that followed were a testament to the royal family’s ongoing commitment to supporting those affected by tragedy, particularly when it involves the most vulnerable members of society – children. His words of encouragement, urging the children to “be brave, be joyful, and be kind,” served as a reminder that despite the darkness of the past year, there is always a path forward through love and kindness.
As their visit came to a close, the royal couple left Churchtown Primary School to the uplifting strains of Heather Small’s “Proud,” with children and staff waving their arms in the air, celebrating the collective strength and resilience of their community. For those affected by the tragic events of July 29, 2024, the royal visit was a poignant reminder that they are not alone, and that their grief, while deep, is met with compassion and support from across the nation.
Through these visits, Prince William and Princess Kate continue to demonstrate the important role of the royal family in offering not just symbolic gestures, but real, heartfelt support to communities in need. In the face of unspeakable loss, they bring comfort and a sense of unity, helping to ensure that the memory of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie will live on not only in the hearts of those who loved them but also in the collective strength of the Southport community.
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