On September 23, 2025, the Prince and Princess of Wales made an emotional return to Southport, a coastal town still grappling with the aftermath of a devastating tragedy. Their visit, marked by compassion, remembrance, and community spirit, was a poignant show of support for the families and schools affected by the deadly knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class last summer.
The attack, carried out by Axel Rudakubana on June 29, 2024, claimed the lives of three young girls—Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven; Bebe King, six; and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine—and left eight other children injured. The shocking event sent ripples of grief and anger through Southport and the nation. In the wake of the tragedy, the community rallied to remember the victims, support the bereaved, and rebuild a sense of hope for the future.
According to Press Association and Daily Mail, the royal couple began their day at Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie had been a pupil. There, William and Kate spent more than an hour, including a private 20-minute meeting with Elsie’s parents, Jenni and David Stancombe. Headteachers Jennie Sephton and Adrian Antell expressed how much the visit meant to the school, which had endured a "tremendously stressful" year. "It’s made such a big difference. It was something that Jenni and David wanted them to do right from the beginning," Sephton said. She emphasized the importance of recognizing the staff’s efforts to support the family and pupils in the aftermath.
After their time at Farnborough Road, William and Kate traveled to Churchtown Primary School, attended by Alice and Bebe. The couple was welcomed by 700 pupils and shown a new commemorative playground built in memory of the girls, the result of a community-driven fundraising campaign. The playground, now a joyful and healing space, features a stage, library, quiet areas, a climbing frame, and a special wooden wigwam called "The Hive"—a tribute to Bebe’s playful spirit.
In a speech delivered from the playground’s stage, Prince William praised the community’s resilience and the enduring legacy of the three girls. "This playground is a symbol of how the community have come together to create such a positive space for the pupils of this school—a symbol of remembrance and resilience, a testament that love will always overcome tragedy," he said. Addressing the bereaved parents—Alex and Sergio Aguiar, Lauren and Ben King, Jenni and David Stancombe—William continued, "You are parents united in grief. You have faced such horror, but from that you move forward with grace and fortitude, creating the most remarkable legacies for your girls. We will always be here to support you."
Both the Prince and Princess wore friendship bracelets gifted by Lauren King, Bebe’s mother, each inscribed with Bebe’s name—a touching reminder of the young lives lost and the bonds forged in grief. Lauren King later described the event as "really special," adding, "We’re really grateful anyway, how Bebe’s been honoured so much in the school, and seeing the Prince and Princess support that and be here has been just amazing." Ben King echoed her sentiments, noting the "incredible and supportive" atmosphere of the day.
During their visit, William and Kate spent time with Alice’s classmates, discussing artwork they had created to process their emotions. The Princess was visibly moved by the children’s ability to express difficult feelings through art. "It’s very unusual for young people to be able to express bad and hard and difficult emotions like you’ve done, and actually doing it through art is really clever, but really expressive," Kate observed. William praised the students as well: "Not only is it really lovely art, but it’s got such strong meaning behind it."
The Aguiar family showed the royal couple the playground’s stage, a place Alice would have loved. "Prince William asked if that would be her favourite place and I said yes, she would have been there dancing away," recalled Alexandra Aguiar. She described the visit as a "day they will never forget."
The fundraising campaign for the playground saw remarkable community involvement, including marathon runs by Alice and Elsie’s fathers, and even the royal couple’s own private donation. Surplus funds were distributed to local charities and three organizations established in memory of the girls: Alice’s WonderDance Foundation, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story. The effort, as Daily Mail reported, became a symbol of Southport’s determination to transform grief into lasting good.
The children’s reactions to the royal visit ranged from awe to excitement. Cameron Smith, 11, said, "We were shocked, I was like, ‘We get to talk to the prince?’" Jessica Hazelhurst, 10, recounted how the children only learned of their VIP visitors minutes before their arrival, adding to the surprise and joy. Zainah Thompson, also 10, mentioned, "He said he wasn’t good at maths, but said it’s a good subject to learn."
Teachers and staff took the opportunity to discuss the school’s response to the tragedy with William and Kate. Headteacher Jinnie Payne said the visit was "a special moment," and highlighted how the new playground offers both creative and quiet spaces for children to process their feelings. The Princess commented on the creativity that had been brought outside, giving children opportunities for drawing and reflection in the fresh air.
Later in the day, the royal couple also met with the dance teachers who had organized the ill-fated Taylor Swift-themed class. Their ongoing engagement with the Southport community follows a previous visit in October 2024, when they met families, emergency responders, and mental health practitioners. Their presence, both then and now, has been a source of comfort and recognition for a community still healing.
The tragedy’s aftermath has also prompted searching questions about safeguarding failures. At a recent inquiry, the families criticized missed warning signs and inadequate intervention by authorities, with the Stancombe family stating, "If a child were malnourished or unwashed, social services would act immediately. But when a child is surrounded by weapons, involved in violent behaviour and known to be a threat, the system does nothing. That is a failure. No action was taken. Why? Our daughter paid the price for that failure."
Axel Rudakubana, the perpetrator, was sentenced in January 2025 to life in prison with a minimum term of 52 years. The judge’s decision, and the emotional scenes in court, underscored the gravity of the crime and the pain it inflicted on so many.
As the children of Southport return to their new playground, their laughter and creativity stand as a living tribute to Elsie, Bebe, and Alice. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ visit was more than a gesture—it was a reaffirmation that, even in the face of unimaginable loss, community and kindness endure.
