Prince William and Catherine visit Southport families to support community after fatal knife attack

Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, visited Southport on Tuesday to meet families and the local community affected by last summer's fatal knife attack. The couple said the visit was aimed at showing that the victims’ families and the town had not been forgotten and to hear how staff and families have coped in the aftermath. They stopped at Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School to hear from teachers about the attack's impact and the support offered to pupils and families.

At the school, the couple heard from teachers about how the incident disrupted daily life and how staff coordinated counseling and outreach for affected students and families. They spoke privately with the family of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, who died in the July 2024 attack at a dance class. Catherine and William also learned from school staff about ongoing measures to support bereaved pupils and the wider school community.

Two other children died in the attack: Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, and Bebe King, aged six. The incident sparked a wave of grief, anger and unrest in Southport, drawing a public response from emergency services and local authorities. In autumn, Catherine returned to public life for the first time since completing chemotherapy, meeting bereaved families and emergency workers who responded to the attack to show they had not been forgotten.

A public inquiry into the Southport attack is gathering evidence in sessions at Liverpool Town Hall, with investigators examining how the tragedy unfolded and how authorities responded in its aftermath.

The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding the attack and its aftermath as investigators collect testimony and documents from local agencies. The royals’ visit underscores ongoing efforts to support families and bolster resilience in the town as the inquiry progresses.