Prince William and Kate return to Southport to support families as inquiry highlights safeguarding gaps

Prince William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, returned to Southport on Wednesday to offer continued support to families affected by the July 2024 knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop that killed three girls. The couple attended a visit to the school associated with Elsie Dot Stancombe, before spending time in private meetings with the seven-year-old’s grieving parents and her younger sister. Their spokesman described the stop as part of an ongoing commitment to stand with the community in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy.

It is the couple’s second trip to Southport since the killings, and comes after their first visit in October 2024, when they met with the families of all three victims and with emergency services personnel and mental health workers who have supported those affected. In a statement issued after that visit, William and Catherine said they would “continue to stand with everyone in Southport” and that meeting the community had underscored the importance of mutual support in the wake of tragedy. The couple renewed that pledge during the latest engagement, according to officials.

In 2024, Axel Rudakubana, then 17, murdered Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine; Bebe King, six; and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, during the attack on children attending a holiday dance class. Leanne Lucas, a dance teacher who shielded the girls, was seriously injured. The royals spent time with the bereaved families and with responders who helped on the day, a gesture the couple have described as vital to long-term community healing. They also met with emergency responders and mental health practitioners serving the blue-light community, many of whom remain scarred by what they witnessed.

The royals’ support extended beyond personal meetings. In April, it emerged that the couple quietly donated to Churchtown Primary School, where Alice and Bebe attended, to help fund a new playground in memory of the children. School headteacher Jinnie Payne announced the gift, saying it would help create an expanded space for Youngsters to play and honour the girls’ memories. The donation followed their October 2024 visit, when the couple vowed to continue standing with Southport’s families and wider community.

The broader context surrounding the tragedy has been scrutinized at a public inquiry in Liverpool, where, on Wednesday, evidence portrayed a chain of safeguarding failures and missed warnings. The Stancombe family, represented byNicholas Bowen KC, read a statement describing perceived neglect when a parent was aware that a child posed a danger and weapons were present at home. The family questioned why authorities, after previous visits to the home, did not intervene more decisively. The statement underscored the gravity of the inquiry’s focus on safeguarding responsibilities and accountability.

A separate filing from the King and King family cited a prolonged “chain of failures” across systems and services, with red flags missed and risks underestimated. The inquiry revealed that the attack’s time frame included a taxi ride that brought Rudakubana to the studio where the mass killing occurred. Gary Poland, the driver, waited about 50 minutes before calling 999 after hearing screams and witnessing the unfolding attack in his rearview mirror. The hearing detailed that police were finally notified at 12:36 p.m. by the driver, who later described being shaken by the events.

Detective Chief Inspector Jason Pye, the senior investigating officer, testified that while a member of the public has no formal duty of care, there would be a moral expectation to report what was happening once safe. The inquiry’s timeline showed Rudakubana left his home at 11:10 a.m., was picked up by a taxi a short time later, and entered the Hart Space building around 11:46 a.m., where distress could be heard mere seconds after he entered. The proceedings highlighted a rapid sequence of events that culminated in multiple fatalities and injuries among children.

In January, Rudakubana was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years for the triple murders and 10 additional counts of attempted murder or related offenses. The judge, Mr Justice Goose, removed him briefly from the dock on multiple occasions as the sentencing unfolded in Liverpool, underscoring the emotional weight of the day for families and witnesses alike. The inquiry’s findings and testimonies continue to shape public debate over safeguarding practices and the adequacy of systems meant to protect vulnerable children.

The royal visit to Southport also represents a broader arc for Catherine, marking her return to public duties after a disclosed cancer treatment and a carefully calibrated re-entry to public life. The private nature of the encounter with the victims’ families was intended to respect those directly affected, with the couple’s public remarks emphasizing continued support and solidarity rather than public celebration. While Friday’s events underscored a sustained commitment from the Crown to the Southport community, they also arrived against the backdrop of ongoing investigations and introspection within safeguarding services, the school system, and local authorities involved in the response.

The Southport episode, including the inquiry’s ongoing review, has become a focal point for broader conversations about how communities respond to disaster and how institutions can better protect children. For the families who lost children and for those who worked to save others, the royal presence offered a visible gesture of recognition and empathy. As the inquiry continues, the community awaits further findings on whether earlier actions could have altered the course of events, and what reforms may be needed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.