King Charles meets families and survivors in Southport after attack killing three girls

King Charles made a poignant visit to Southport this afternoon, meeting with survivors and families affected by the horrifying knife attack that shook the UK. The monarch arrived at Southport Town Hall shortly after 1:30 PM, where he listened to the harrowing experiences of children who were attacked at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in July.

Charles, aged 75, laid flowers for the three child victims of the attack – Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine. He spent time at the memorials and greeted some of those gathered before entering the building to meet with the survivors, their families, and the police liaison team supporting them.

He viewed the sea of floral tributes left in memory of the children, including a message that read: “God has gained three beautiful new angels… May you dance forever in heaven and be at peace.”

The country was rocked on 29 July when a knifeman went on a rampage at a dance class for children in Merseyside. Misinformation about the identity of the alleged attacker led to anti-immigration riots throughout the country, which were condemned by the victims’ families.

The family of the last child released from the hospital condemned the attacks on the police force, stating, “When the horrific events unfolded, our police officers were the first on the scene.”

While Charles has not publicly commented on the riots, a spokesperson confirmed that he was monitoring the situation closely and receiving daily updates.

In phone calls with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who described the attacks as “far-right thuggery,” the king called for unity and praised the “community spirit” of those who opposed the rioters.

Today, the monarch heard personal accounts from the survivors, their families, and police officers who attended the scene. He is also scheduled to meet privately with the bereaved families of the children who lost their lives in London tomorrow.

British-born Axel Rudakubana, 18, was arrested shortly after the attacks. He is charged with three counts of murder, the attempted murder of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

The 18-year-old has also been charged with possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade. While he was 17 at the time of the attack, the decision was made to lift Rudakubana’s anonymity after a false rumor spread that a Muslim immigrant had been arrested for the stabbings.

Rudakubana remains in custody until his next hearing on 25 October at Liverpool Crown Court. A provisional trial date has been scheduled for 20 January.