Kate Middleton in surprise first engagement since end of chemotherapy with touching visit

The Princess of Wales has made a surprise visit with Prince William to meet with the families of victims and emergency workers who were caught up in the horrific Southport stabbings.

After a private meeting with the victims, William and Kate went on to thank brave rescue crews who rushed to save children stabbed in the ordeal. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Da Silva Aguiar, nine, died as a result of their catastrophic injuries when a knifeman broke into a Taylor Swift- themed dance party on July 30.

Dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, was also critically wounded after being stabbed in the neck, back and arms as she fought to protect her class. The unannounced trip to Merseyside today was William and Kate’s first joint official outing since the princess’s course of chemotherapy treatment ended in the summer following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

It is understood the engagement was planned as a solo visit for William but Kate decided to join her husband in order to show her support, empathy and compassion for the local community. The Waleses met the families of the three slain little girls and Leanne in a private reception, before moving to Southport Community Centre.

There, they were joined emergency responders involved in the attack to hear about their experiences and meet health practitioners supporting the ‘blue light’ community in Southport. Here they comforted tearful fire crews, police officers and paramedics who recalled the traumatic events of that day.

Kate wore a long brown coat and heels with her hair down and curled and looked serious as she spoke to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside Peter Oliver who greeted the couple. The prince and princess spent half an hour with each of the family groups and were 45 minutes late arriving, and William could be heard apologising to the waiting guests.