Prince William and Kate's incredible gesture to Southport victims on heartwrenching visit

Prince William and Princess Kate had a private meeting today with the family of Elsie Dot Stancombe, a seven-year-old girl who was horrifically stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in Southport.

The Waleses travelled to the Merseyside town today for an emotional visit as they continue to show their support for the grief-stricken community after the deadly 2024 attack claimed the lives of three young girls, including nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, and six-year-old Bebe King.

Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales will also speak with locals about how the tragedy has impacted the tight-knit town. They will meet with emergency responders who were first on the scene during the senseless attack.

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After arriving in Southport, William and Kate travelled to Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where little Elsie was a pupil. The royal couple were welcomed by Peter Oliver, deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, June Burns, Mayor of Sefton, Marion Atkinson, leader of Sefton council and its CEO Phillip Porter.

Jennie Sephton, head of the infant school, where Elsie was a pupil, and Adrian Antell, head of the junior school, then introduced the royal couple to members of the school council - 16 from the junior school and 16 from the infant school.

Inside, William and Kate spoke to teachers about how the school was affected by the tragedy and the support it has provided to pupils, staff and the local community.

William and Kate then met with Elsie's parents, Jenni and David, and her younger sister for a private meeting, before travelling to another engagement in the town. Along with Alice's father Sergio Aguiar, David ran the London Marathon in April in memory of their daughters and the Prince and Princess donated to their fundraising efforts.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also made a generous donation to the school's Churchtown Playground fund, in which a new playground has been created to serve as a joyful, healing space for the school’s pupils.

This is the second time William and Kate have met with the victims' families, after previously visiting in October 2024 to show their support and hear how locals came together following the heinous rampage.

They spent time with the bereaved families of the three children who lost their lives and the dance teacher who was caught up in the attack.

They then met with emergency responders who helped victims on that horrific day, to hear about their experiences and speak to mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long term support to the blue light community in Southport.

Prince William had promised the families and local community he would visit as soon as possible and his first visit had long been scheduled in, but the decision by his wife to join him was more recent. It is understood that Kate wanted to "show her support, empathy and compassion to the local community".

Bebe, Alice and Elsie were killed last year when Axel Rudakubana launched his depraved knife attack on the Taylor Swift-themed dance class.

In January, 19-year-old Rudakubana was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court to a minimum of 52 years in jail for the "sadistic" murders of the three young girls, with judge Mr Justice Goose describing his crimes as "shocking" and "pure evil".