Prince William and Kate Middleton made an unannounced trip to Southport, near Liverpool, today, September 23, to visit the classmates of the three young children murdered last year in the horrific knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class. The reason for the visit may have been somber, but from the pictures it looks like it was a comforting occasion rather than a solely mournful one.
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The pair met with children, teachers, and administrators from the Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, and also visited a playground that opened last week in memory of the three victims, per Hello! The new playground “includes a stage, libraries, play areas and quiet spaces designed to bring comfort, hope, and healing,” the Waleses wrote online.
They also met privately with the parents of one of the victims, Elsie Dot Stancombe. The couple had previously visited the area in October 2024 to meet with bereaved family members and the first responders who dealt with the emergency, which occurred in July 2024.
SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Catherine, Princess of Wales wears a bracelet with Bebe’s name on it given to him by her Bebe’s mother Lauren during a visit to the new commemorative playground at Churchtown Primary School, created in memory of former pupils Bebe King and Alice da Silva Aguiar, on September 23, 2025 in Southport, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales carried out engagements to show their ongoing support to the community following the attack in July 2024, in which three girls – Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe – were tragically killed at a dance class in the town. Their Royal Highnesses will visit Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie Dot Stancombe was a pupil at the school and speak to teachers about how the school was impacted by the attack and the support the infant and associated junior school has given to pupils, staff and the local community. (Photo by Phil Noble – WPA Pool/Getty Images)WPA Pool/Getty Images