Kate Middleton in surprise first engagement since end of chemotherapy with touching visit
The Princess of Wales has taken part in her first official engagment since the end of her chemotherapy treatment by joining Prince William in Southport, where three little girls were killed at a Taylor Swift themed party during the summer holidays

The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit with Prince William to meet with the families of victims and emergency workers who were caught up in the horrific Southport stabbings.

After a private meeting with the victims, William and Kate went on to thank brave rescue crews who rushed to save children stabbed in the ordeal. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, died as a result of their catastrophic injuries when a knifeman broke into a Taylor Swift- themed dance party on July 30.

Dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, was also critically wounded after being stabbed in the neck, back and arms as she fought to protect her class. The unannounced trip to Merseyside today was William and Kate’s first joint official outing since the princess’s course of chemotherapy treatment ended in the summer following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

It is understood the engagement was planned as a solo visit for William but Kate decided to join her husband in order to show her support, empathy and compassion for the local community. The Waleses met the families of the three slain little girls and Leanne in a private reception, before moving to Southport Community Centre.

There, they were joined emergency responders involved in the attack to hear about their experiences and meet health practitioners supporting the ‘blue light’ community in Southport. Here they comforted tearful fire crews, police officers and paramedics who recalled the traumatic events of that day.

Kate wore a long brown coat and heels with her hair down and curled and looked serious as she spoke to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Peter Oliver who greeted the couple. The prince and princess spent half an hour with each of the family groups and were 45 minutes late arriving, and William could be heard apologising to the waiting guests.

The visit to Southport was Kate’s first official engagement since the end of her chemotherapy treatment
The visit to Southport was Kate’s first official engagement since the end of her chemotherapy treatment ( Image: PA)
Kate wore a long brown coat with a red polka dot dress
Kate wore a long brown coat with a red polka dot dress ( Image: PA)
William, 42, said: “Thank you, you are all true professionals, look after yourselves.” But in a personal touch the future king prompted a laugh by insisting: “Get inside and get yourself a cup of tea to get warm” after a 30 minute meeting in the community centre’s garden.

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During the meeting, royal couple sat together and asked about the mental health support which had been available to emergency service workers. Kate said the personnel had been supporting people through their “darkest times”. She said: “For you to witness that, you need support yourselves.” The princess said she imagined the experience took “its toll” on them.

One police officer told the couple of suffering anxiety following the attack and being off work. Kate and William nodded as they listened to the experiences. Referencing the earlier meeting with the families of those who died in the attack, the Princess of Wales said: “I can’t underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day. On behalf of them, thank you.”

During the chat, Kate was asked how the families of the three girls killed in the attack were doing. She said: “They’re OK. They’re managing it differently. All the families are so different. Individually too they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways but they’re getting support from families and officers and things like that. I think 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.”

William and Kate asked about the mental health support which had been available to emergency service workers
William and Kate asked about the mental health support which had been available to emergency service workers ( Image: PA)
Kate also rested a hand on William’s back as she joined him to speak to a member of air ambulance crew. Chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Phil Garrigan said he had a “really lovely fleeting conversation” with William and Kate after they had spoken to the group of emergency personnel.

He said: “The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to give a hug to the people who responded because she could see the emotion in them and could see it was difficult for them to relay their feelings and to say how impactful events have been. I think that just shows a really caring side and is very, very touching for them.”

The couple’s touching visit to Southport followed another by the King in August, when His Majesty expressed his “deepest sympathies” and pledged to support those affected. King Charles had also personally thanked fire crews and paramedics before meeting with victims and their families as well as faith leaders in the town.

The couple speak to a critical care paramedic from the Air Ambulance during their trip to Southport ( Image: PA)
At the time Charles, 75, promised to pass on some crocheted flowers to Kate and Charlotte, which had been gifted to him by a woman in the crowd. The King also spent some time admiring floral tributes, teddy bears and balloons at a memorial garden before signing a book of condolences in the town hall.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, William and Kate sent out a heartfelt message to the Merseyside community. The parents of Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, said they could not imagine the pain of the families who lost their children.

They said: “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. Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most.”

Kate’s appearance today comes as she has been slowly returning to a light programme of public duties following her announcement in a video four weeks ago her course of chemotherapy had ended and her focus would be “doing what I can to stay cancer free”.

She was pictured last week hugging aspiring photographer Liz Hatton, 16, who has a rare form of cancer, after the teenager was invited to Windsor Castle by William to take pictures during an investiture ceremony he hosted. She also made a private visit a few weeks ago to watch the English National Ballet’s matinee show of Giselle at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London, and posted on social media about the “moving and inspiring” performance.