King Charles meets survivors of fatal knife attack in Southport
ITV Granada's Emma Sweeney reports on the King's visit to a town in mourning
King Charles expressed his “sympathy and empathy” for the people of Southport when he visited the town to meet survivors of the fatal knife attack.
Charles suspended his traditional Balmoral break to hold a private meeting with the young children, and their families, who were attacked by a knifeman at a Taylor Swift dance class on 29 July.
Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, were killed in the attack and several more children and two adults were critically injured.
The head of state, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, attended the town hall to speak with members of the community.
He stopped to look at the flowers, memorials and greet some of those gathered before going inside the building to meet some of the children who survived the attack, their families and the police liaison team working with them.
The King signed a book of condolence before meeting local politicians at Southport Community Fire Station to hear from Merseyside’s emergency services, as well as meeting faith leaders.
Patrick Hurley, MP for Sefton, which includes Southport, met the King with other local leaders at a fire station, and said afterwards: “The town’s emotions were raging and they still are very raw and he was very empathetic.
“He was very keen to express his sympathy and empathy. Very keen to make sure the people of Southport know that from the symbolism perspective, the country’s heart goes out to the people here.”
ITV Granada's Elaine Willcox spoke to community leaders about what meeting the King meant to them
Charles is due to welcome the families of Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice Dasilva Aguiar in London on Wednesday.
It is understood they are attending the final Taylor Swift concert in London on Tuesday evening.
It comes after it was revealed some of the survivors of the attack met the US pop star backstage after one of her Wembley shows.
Following the attack last month, rioting broke out in Southport and across the country.
The disorder included looting, with hotels housing asylum seekers also attacked before counter-demonstrations appeared to quell the disturbances.
The violence, denounced as “far-right thuggery” by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, was sparked by false claims about the identity of a teenage suspect later charged with three counts of murder.
The family of the final child to be released from hospital earlier this month condemned the “disorder” and attacks on police officers, emphasising that “when the horrific events unfolded, our police officers were the first on the scene”.
The King has been engaging privately with the issues generated by the disorder which has seen hundreds arrested.
Following the Southport stabbings Charles, at his request, received daily briefings about the national situation when the disorder was at its height.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and and possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.
This is the Talking Royals - our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson