COMPASSIONATE Kate delivered hugs and heartfelt thanks to emergency workers who responded to the Southport child stabbings in a surprise appearance yesterday.
She had not been scheduled to join Prince William, but just before he arrived in the town, Kensington Palace announced his wife had decided to accompany him.
It is understood the Princess of Wales wanted to show her support, empathy and compassion for the grieving community.
She and William, 42, spent 90 minutes talking privately to the families of victims Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.
They were killed in the July 29 knife rampage as they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop.
The royals also talked to dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was stabbed in the neck, back and arms as she fought to protect her class.
Comforted
William and Kate then headed to the Merseyside town's community centre where they spoke to tearful emergency service members and health practitioners for 30 minutes.
It marked the couple's first official joint visit since Kate's cancer treatment ended in the summer and also the 42-year-old's first community engagement since last December.
As William and Kate comforted the 999 responders, he told them they were all heroes.
This story is from the October 11, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 11, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Hands-on Arteta already planning for the next era
MIKEL ARTETA celebrates his 250th game in charge of Arsenal today - and has already mapped out the future with the Gunners hierarchy.
Unai said: Until you can prove yourself you're a Championship player in my eyes
TOUGH love has transformed Morgan Rogers into a Premier League thoroughbred.
No place like a prize home for Omaze winner
ECSTATIC Sarah Perry has won a £500,000 home near her Powys roots in an Omaze draw and given her husband the shock of his life.
Back beside the seaside 52 years on
FUN-LOVING pals reshot a snap from their first holiday together - 52 years ago.
'Harshita, you left this world but are still in our hearts'
Family's tribute to body-in-boot wife
Factory farming costs taxpayer £1bn a year
THE factory farming of animals costs taxpayers almost £1billion a year, a study has found.
'Our beautiful one-of-a-kind Simone had a spark for life'
THE parents of a British lawyer who died after allegedly being served drinks laced with methanol in Laos say they are \"devastated by the loss of our beautiful, kind and loving daughter\".
Strictly Sarah: I didn't believe I could do lifts ...but look at me now
NEWLY confident Sarah Hadland has ditched her panic about bare legs, fake tans and doing ballroom lifts to become a firm favourite to win Strictly Come Dancing.
Down thunder! Aussie TV camp soaked
THE I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! camp has been battered by torrential rain, which could lead to the contestants being evacuated.
300 jabs a minute to event tripledemic’
AN NHS vaccination blitz is delivering more than 300 jabs a minute to tackle a deadly \"tripledemic\" of flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus.
