King Charles III has made a surprising decision as Kate Middleton geared up to join him at Balmoral Castle to enjoy a well-deserved holiday after months of cancer treatment. The monarch has taken a big step to ease the suffering of the people who lost their loved ones in an attack, breaking off his summer holiday to visit Southport.
The 75-year-old, who kicked off his official Summer break in the iconic Scottish residence, will meet with the bereaved families from the Southport tragedy following a mass stabbing on July 29. The King, who's welcoming the royal family at Balmoral castle to spend time together after taking a break from a hectic workload and cancer treatment, will offer his condolences and support to the families of the victims after three young girls were killed.
The horrific incident occurred when a group of children were taking part in a sold-out Taylor Swift-themed class at a dance centre in the town when a knifeman carried out the offensive. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, lost their lives following the attack, which was followed by rioting in Southport and across the country.
Prince William and Harry's father will also meet some of the surviving children who were present during the attack in Southport. The King and Queen Camilla were “profoundly shocked” following the attack last month as they sent their “most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this appalling attack.”
The King’s visit comes three weeks on from a knife attack that killed three young girls in Southport, north-west of England. Soon after news of the attack on 29 July, the King and Queen Camilla said they were “profoundly shocked” at the “the utterly horrific incident” in the town in Merseyside. “We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack,” they said.
Tributes were also echoed by the the Prince and Princess of Wales, who sent their love and prayers “to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack”.
The King will arrive in Southport later to meet with the families directly affected by the knife attack in July. He’ll also speak to some of the surviving children who witnessed the stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The King will then meet with the paramedics, police and firefighters that responded to the attack and then had to deal with the violent disorder that followed. Faith leaders in the area will also be present. It’s likely the King waited until his visit would not put additional pressure on the emergency services here.
The King will also meet with emergency service workers who responded to the July 29 attack and the subsequent riots that followed.
The monarch's decision came a day after Meghan and Harry concluded their trip to Colombia. King Charles III is set to meet with young survivors of a July stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Charles, 75, will travel to Southport, England, on Tuesday, August 20, to spend time with those affected by the July 29 attack in which three children were killed. He will also meet with members of the local community and emergency staff who responded to the attack.
The monarch will first meet locals outside Southport Town Hall, according to Buckingham Palace, followed by a private meeting with people affected by the July 29 knife attack. It’s understood that Charles will meet with some of the young survivors and their families. Later in the day, the king will attend the Southport Community Fire Station to meet with local elected leaders, and staff from Merseyside’s police, fire and rescue, and ambulance services, who will share their experiences responding to the attack and the subsequent riots in Southport.
Charles’ visit comes after two young girls reported to be involved in the stabbing were invited backstage to meet Swift during her Sunday, August 18, concert at London’s Wembley Stadium. “You drew stars around my scars,” reads the caption of a TikTok video uploaded by Sami Foster, a mother of two young Swifties, on Sunday. “The biggest thankyou to @Taylor Swift and her mum for making the most magical night possible for us all 🫶🏻 thankyou for bringing Hope & Autumn pure happiness last night & always.”
The now-viral video features photos of Foster’s daughters with Swift, 34, who can be seen holding them tightly by her side. Foster set the carousel of photos to Swift’s “Enchanted” from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Swift’s mom, Andrea, was also spotted in one of the images. Swift previously shared her condolences in a heartfelt message posted via her Instagram Story on July 30. “The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously, and I’m just completely in shock,” Swift wrote. “The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders.” “These were just little kids at a dance class,” she continued. “I am at a complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.”
The King’s visit comes after he faced criticism that he was not doing enough to show solidarity with the victims of the horrific attack. The Daily Beast, along with other media, was told by courtiers after the July 29 attack that the king hoped to visit the communities affected by the attack but did not want to impede or inconvenience key workers responding to the attack, the riots and the aftermath. On Tuesday morning his office announced that he would meet survivors from the attack Tuesday in Southport, and then Wednesday will be meeting some bereaved family members in London. The king will also show his thanks to the emergency services who responded to the events.
King Charles will visit Southport on Tuesday to meet those affected by the 29 July fatal stabbings and the riot that followed in the town. He will privately meet some of the children who survived the attack at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class. Charles will also personally thank the frontline emergency responders. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed during the attack in a studio on Hart Street in Southport, Merseyside. Ten others, including two adults, were seriously injured and taken to hospitals across north-west England.
The attacks sparked violent disorder in towns and cities in England and Northern Ireland as rioters clashed with police, with the violence blamed on online disinformation posted on social media. It is the king’s first visit to Southport since the fatal stabbings and subsequent violent gatherings.
The King will hold a private meeting and then carry out a public visit to Southport's town hall to meet other members of the community. The monarch is set to hold a private meeting with the young people and their families who were most directly affected by the attack at The Hart Space community centre on 29 July. He will then carry out a public visit to Southport's town hall to meet other members of the community to talk about the attack and the riots that followed the tragedy. The King will also show his thanks to the emergency services who responded. Visiting Southport Community fire station, he will meet staff representing Merseyside's police, fire and rescue, and ambulance services, as well as regional leaders including the mayors of the Liverpool City Region and Sefton and local MP Patrick Hurley. Other local groups impacted by the violent disorder in Southport, including faith leaders, will also have time to share their experiences with him. His Majesty will also meet the bereaved families from Southport in London tomorrow.
A 17-year-old was charged on August 1 with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and one of possession of a bladed article, in connection with the attack.
