Kate Middleton pays tribute to Southport stabbing victims with hidden meaning in outfit details

The Princess of Wales and Prince William traveled to Liverpool on Tuesday for a visit to Churchtown Primary School, meeting the parents of Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, the three girls who were killed in the Southport knife attack in June 2024. The couple’s outing followed an emotional visit to the city last October, and served as a continuation of their support for the families and the wider community affected by the tragedy. During the visit, the couple spoke with staff, parents and pupils about the lasting impact of the assault and the community’s efforts to remember the victims through memorial projects and ongoing outreach programs.

Kate Middleton appeared in a pink Burberry Silk Crepe de Chine blouse paired with a charcoal wool coat from Jigsaw and a Smythson cross-body bag. The outfit choices carried a quiet significance: pink has become a color associated with the victims and survivors, and her use of subtle pink details aligned with the community’s commemorative tone. At one engagement, the couple were presented with bracelets by Bebe King’s mother, Lauren King, which bore the words Bebe’s Hive, the charity established in the girl’s memory. The couple wore the beaded bracelets for the remainder of the day, a gesture seen as a personal tribute to the girls and their families.

In addition to the fashion nods, Kate wore a pink blouse as part of a broader, understated sartorial tribute. The color has become a communal symbol of solidarity in Southport, with pink lighting illuminating landmarks across the region in the weeks and months following the attack. Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson described the collective response as a powerful display of unity, noting that communities came together to mourn and to support the families most affected while continuing to care for those who were injured.

The focus of the day extended beyond fashion. The visit highlighted ongoing philanthropic efforts, including the commemorative playground at Churchtown Primary School, which was funded in part by donations tied to the incident. The school’s leadership and families have directed surplus funds to local charities connected with the victims’ families and three charities established in memory of the girls—Alice’s WonderDance Foundation, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story. Members of the families, including the girls’ fathers, participated in fundraising activities, such as the London Marathon, with the couple’s private contributions assisting in the appeal.

William spoke to pupils about resilience and remembrance, telling the class of Elsie, Bebe and Alice to “be brave, be joyful and be kind.” The heir to the throne acknowledged how the school community has rallied around one another in the face of tragedy, praising the teachers for their dedication and the families for keeping the girls’ memories alive in positive, constructive ways. The visit underscored a broader commitment by the couple to remain involved with the Southport community as it continues to cope with the loss and work toward healing.

Hidden meanings in personal accessories have increasingly become part of public tributes. Bebe’s mother described the bracelets as a sign of friendship, support and community—which fans of the music world have also embraced in recent years. The beaded tokens gained popular traction during Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, where fans trade short, messenger-style bracelets bearing words and lyrics. The cultural crossovers in this case—between royal public duty and pop culture—underscore how personal artifacts can function as symbols of solidarity in times of collective grief.

The victims, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; and Bebe King, six, were among the children who attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class when they were fatally attacked by Axel Rudakubana, who also injured eight others. Rudakubana, then 19, was sentenced in January to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years. The judge noted the scale of the harm and acknowledged that the sentence would likely keep him incarcerated for much of his life. In the aftermath, the community has continued to honor the girls through memorials, playgrounds and ongoing clinical and emotional support for those affected by the tragedy.

Beyond the immediate families, the events have spurred a broader surge of public support. The partnership between the families, local charities and national attention surrounding Taylor Swift’s fan community has helped sustain fundraising and awareness efforts across the region. The ongoing public commitment to the girls’ memories—through school memorials, community vigils and urban lightings—reflects a shared hope that remembrance can translate into positive programs for children and families who have endured unimaginable loss.

As the day drew to a close, observers noted the couple’s calm engagement with students and families, their willingness to listen to personal stories and their expressed intent to remain involved in Southport’s healing process. The visit came as part of a long-standing pattern of royal support for communities confronting serious tragedy, a pattern that analysts say reinforces the monarchy’s role in providing stability and continuity during periods of collective grieving.