Kate Middleton makes surprise first public engagement since finishing chemotherapy

The Prince and Princess of Wales met emergency responders and the bereaved families of the Southport attack

Kate Middleton and Prince William are in Southport today, visiting emergency responders who attended the stabbing incident that claimed the lives of three schoolgirls and injured ten others. The visit by the Prince and Princess of Wales comes a month and a half after King Charles' visit to the town, where he thanked responders and met with families affected by the attack.

On Monday, July 29, emergency services rushed to The Hart Space, situated on a small industrial estate on Hart Street in Southport, following reports of a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The horrifying incident resulted in the deaths of Alice Da Silva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, while eight children and two adults sustained injuries.

In the aftermath, vigils and services were held across the town. King Charles visited on August 20, meeting with the families of those injured, the bereaved families, and the emergency responders who dealt with the violent disorder that unfolded across Merseyside.

Today, Thursday, October 10, Prince William and Princess Kate have paid their respects at the Compassion Acts charity building on Sussex Road and Southport Community Centre on Norwood Road, where they met Leanne Lucas.

Leanne bravely shielded the children from the attacker, sustaining injuries herself. Updates from her friend Esther Shahroodi revealed that Leanne has been in and out of hospital since the incident but is thought to be on the mend, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The Prince and Princess have travelled north to learn about the community's unity following the tragedy and to express their gratitude to those instrumental in the town's recovery.

During the King's visit to Southport less than a month after the devastating attack, he took time to observe the tributes left outside The Atkinson in the town centre before engaging with locals who had gathered to see him. He then spent hours conversing with affected families, members of the public, emergency responders, and community representatives at Southport Community Fire Station.

It marks the first time Prince William and Kate Middleton have visited Merseyside since January 2023 when they officially inaugurated the new Royal Liverpool University Hospital on Thursday, January 12. After touring the hospital's critical care unit, the Royals met with staff, volunteers, and members of the public in the foyer.

The Princess of Wales was presented with a bouquet of flowers by an NHS volunteer before they began to greet the throngs of people inside. Some attendees even managed to snap selfies with the Royals, a rare occurrence as Royal protocol typically discourages such interactions, according to Nottinghamshire Live.