Prince and Princess of Wales share tender moment in Southport as community honors three girls

The Prince and Princess of Wales were filmed sharing a quiet moment during their visit to Southport on Tuesday, shortly after William delivered a brief speech at the opening of a new playground dedicated to the memory of Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe, who were killed in a stabbing attack in the town last year.

Earlier in the day, the couple held private conversations with the bereaved parents—Alice and Bebe's families—and visited Elsie Dot Stancombe's school, Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, before heading to Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe had been pupils. At Churchtown Primary, William offered remarks praising the way classmates have come together to remember the girls in their own way; after the speech, the couple shared a quiet moment, with Kate leaning into William as the crowd applauded and he replying with a smile.

Royal fans quickly circulated the clip online, praising the couple's demeanor and calling them "true soulmates" and saying William chose his queen well. The day’s visits continued the couple’s ongoing support for Southport families affected by the attack that left three young girls dead and prompted a long-running community effort to create spaces for healing and resilience.

Churchtown Primary and Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School have been central to a fundraising drive that culminated in the new playground, built in memory of Alice, Bebe, and Elsie. Surplus funds were distributed to local charities and to three charities founded in memory of the girls—Alice's WonderDance Foundation, Bebe's Hive, and Elsie's Story—while participants in the London Marathon helped raise additional money. Their Royal Highness privately donated to the appeal.

During the visit, William told pupils at Churchtown Primary that the tragedy remains difficult to comprehend and urged them to honor the girls by being brave, joyful, and kind: "The playground is a symbol of how the community has come together to create such a positive space for the pupils of this school—a symbol of remembrance and resilience, a testament that love will always overcome tragedy."

Earlier in the day, Bebe's mother Lauren King presented Kate and William with bracelets bearing her daughter's name; both royals were photographed wearing them. Separately, the couple had spent about 20 minutes in an emotional private meeting with Elsie’s parents, a moment that underscored the ongoing support they have offered since the attack.

In January, Axel Rudakubana, aged 18, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years for carrying out the Southport attack and related charges. Mr Justice Goose described the case as heartbreakingly poignant and noted that Rudakubana’s actions affected the entire community; he was twice removed from the dock for interruptions during proceedings.

The royal couple had previously visited Southport in October 2024 as part of their ongoing outreach to families affected by the tragedy.