(CNN) – The Princes of Wales made a surprise visit to Southport in northwest England on Thursday, where they met the families of three children killed in a July stabbing attack, Kensington Palace said.
William and Kate speak to emergency services workers during a surprise visit to Southampton. Danny Lawson/PA Wire Catherine makes her first public appearance after completing her chemotherapy treatment.
Pep King, 6, Elsie Todd Stancomb, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, were fatally injured on July 29 while attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the city.
The royal couple met privately with the families of the three girls and their dance teacher who was present at the time of the attack.
William and Kate, who have made only a handful of public appearances this year, met with emergency service workers who responded to the scene in July and mental health professionals who support the “Blue Light” community in the following. months.
“I cannot understate how grateful (the families) are for the support you gave that day,” Kate told first responders, Britain’s PA Media news agency reported, during the emotional reunion. He then thanked the frontline staff on behalf of the family.
Meanwhile, William, the heir to the British throne, told the group they were “heroes” and urged them to “take care of yourselves”.
“Please take your time and don’t go back to work,” he added.
After the surprise appearance in Southport, William and Kate took to social media to talk about their “powerful” visit.
“We continue to support everyone in Southport. Meeting the community today is a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy. They will remain in our thoughts and prayers,” the couple wrote in a post on X.
At the time of the knife attack, the royal family released a statement on social media from the perspective of parents. “We cannot imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport are going through today,” they said in July, thanking first responders for their “love, thoughts and prayers”.
The couple donated through their royal trust to a fundraiser set up to provide psychological and physical rehabilitation for police and ambulance workers involved in the attack and subsequent riots.
CNN understands the princess decided to join her husband this Thursday to show her support, sympathy and compassion for the local community.
Kate, 42, is re-entering public life after announcing in a video last month that she is cancer-free after completing chemotherapy. He did not disclose the type of cancer he was treated for.
The princess said the past nine months had been challenging, but added: “However, I am looking forward to getting back to work and doing some more public engagements if I can in the coming months.”
In recent weeks, she has been holding a series of meetings focused mainly on her work in the early years and her upcoming annual Christmas carol concert.
He made a private visit to the English National Ballet for a matinee performance a few weeks ago and later posted on social media about the “moving and inspiring” performance.
The couple weren’t the only royals to show their support for the grieving families and the Southport community. King Charles III made a similar visit in August to meet victims of the attack and thank frontline emergency workers.
This story has been updated.
CNN’s Max Foster contributed to this report.
