Kate makes surprise public appearance with Wills to meet victims of Taylor Swift dance class attack in Southport

KATE has joined William in a surprise appearance to meet victims of the Southport attack.

Bebe King, six, was killed along with Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in the Merseyside town on July 29.

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During the visit, Their Royal Highnesses met privately with the families of the three tragic children, and a dance teacher who was present when the attack happened.

They also met with the fire, ambulance, air ambulance and police services at the Southport Community Centre.

The Prince and Princess then met mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long term support to the blue light community.

It comes after Kate last month announced she is now "cancer free".

It is her first public engagement with William since her diagnosis over six months ago.

The last time they took up royal duties together is thought to be Kate's carol concert last December.

The Sun understands the Prince of Wales was initially supposed to attend the visit alone.

She announced she had finished her chemotherapy course in a heartfelt video on September 9, in which she spoke about her experience while footage played of the Waleses and their children enjoying time together outdoors.

Kate, 42, said she was entering "this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life".

"The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family," she said.

She added: "Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long."

The princess said she was "looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months" but added her focus was "doing what I can to stay cancer free".

Last week, the princess was pictured hugging an aspiring teenage photographer with a rare and aggressive form of cancer after inviting her to take pictures at investitures at Windsor Castle.

Kate met Liz Hatton, 16, from Harrogate, and her family privately after the ceremony with William.

In a personal message on social media, William and Kate praised the teenager, who has desmoplastic small round cell tumour, describing her as a "talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both".

Today's visit is part of her gradual return and she has other light engagements lined up, before hopefully joining her family on Remembrance Sunday.

SICKENING ATTACK

Eight children and two adults were also seriously injured in the knife rampage in July.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, has since been charged with three murders and 10 counts of attempted murder, and awaits trial.

Yoga dance teacher Leanne Lucas suffered stab injuries to the arms, neck and back in a bid to protect the children.

Her colleague Heidi Liddle, meanwhile, escaped uninjured after bravely locking some of the children inside a toilet.

Jonathan Hayes was stabbed in the leg as he bravely tried to fend off the attacker after running into the class when he heard screams.

Terrified witnesses described the rampage as a "horror film" as the teen allegedly stabbed children at random.

The attack sparked riots across the country following alt-right groups and supporters spreading misinformation about the suspect being an illegal immigrant.

Dozens of people were convicted in relation to the unrest.

In the aftermath of the incident, the National Police and Wellbeing Service set up a fundraiser to help those who were involved in the immediate response.

It was supported by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Blue Light Card Foundation who made donations to help fast track psychological and physical rehab for police and ambulance personnel involved in the attack and the subsequent riots.

Ensuring emergency responders receive long-term mental health support following traumatic events is a cause close to the heart of The Prince of Wales, given his first-hand experience as an emergency
responder while serving as a pilot with RAF search and rescue and East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Popstar Swift met some of the survivors the month after the rampage, inviting the children and their families to her Wembley gigs for the Eras Tour.

She was pictured hugging some of the starstruck youngsters.

Also in August, King Charles also met survivors and saw for himself the heartbreaking tributes during a visit to the town.

The monarch, 75, broke off his summer holiday to express his condolences.

One member of the public gave him three cheers and another shouted “thank you for coming” as he greeted the crowds.

After spending around half an hour with the survivors and their families, he signed a book of condolence that was opened shortly after the attack.

In it, he used his own fountain pen to write his name and the date, adding “In deepest sympathy.”

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