King Charles is set to meet with children who survived the Southport stabbing attack
Three children lost their lives in the July attack at The Hart Space community centre in Southport. The King will hold a private meeting and then make a public visit to Southport’s town hall to meet other members of the community.
The King will meet with some of the children who survived the Southport knife attack during a visit to show his support for the community.
The monarch is scheduled to hold a private meeting with the young survivors and their families, who were most directly affected by the 29 July attack at The Hart Space community centre.
Following this, he will make a public visit to Southport’s town hall, where he will meet other community members to discuss the attack and the riots that ensued.
The King will also express his gratitude to the emergency services who responded to the incident. During a visit to Southport Community Fire Station, he will meet with representatives from Merseyside’s police, fire, and ambulance services, along with regional leaders, including the mayors of the Liverpool City Region and Sefton, as well as local MP Patrick Hurley.
Other local groups affected by the violent unrest in Southport, including faith leaders, will also have an opportunity to share their experiences with him.
His Majesty will also meet with the bereaved families from Southport in London tomorrow.
The attack at The Hart Space community centre claimed the lives of three children: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
At the time of the attack in the seaside town north of Liverpool, a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance workshop for children in primary school years two to six was taking place.
The incident resulted in the deaths of three children, while eight other children and two adults were injured.
Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time and has since turned 18, has been charged with murder and attempted murder.
Following the “appalling attack,” the King expressed his condolences, stating, “My wife and I have been profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident in Southport today.”
After some questioned why he wasn’t more vocal or active as unrest spread across the country, the palace revealed that he had been requesting daily updates on the situation.
Following a telephone conversation with the prime minister and emergency service chiefs, the palace confirmed that King Charles had expressed how “greatly encouraged” he was by the numerous examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality of a few with the compassion and resilience of the many.
“It remains His Majesty’s hope that shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation,” the palace stated.
Sky News was informed that the King was eager to visit affected communities to show his concern and support but did not want to place any additional burden on frontline services until they were ready.
Throughout his time as heir and now as monarch, a key focus of his official work has been fostering community cohesion and celebrating Britain’s diverse communities.
