King arrives in Southport to fulfill stabbing assault survivors
King Charles appeared moved today as he inspected floral tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing attack, which claimed the lives of three girls.
His Majesty is in the town speaking to the young survivors who were caught up in the horrific mayhem at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
The monarch will also meet privately with those who have direct experience of the terrible events of July 29, including survivors’ families and emergency workers.
It is believed he will also meet with the families of the innocent young victims of the knife attack, Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar in London tomorrow.
Upon arriving, Charles inspected a sea of floral tributes to the victims before speaking to those caught up in last month’s nightmare ordeal.
Wearing a grey suit and tie, the King appeared moved as he walked through the floral display – with hundreds of bouquets left at outside the Atkinson Art Centre Southport.
At one point, he appeared to read one of the messages of tribute left on one of the bunches as he slowly walked through the floral display.
Charles has already expressed his shock and sympathy at the events, and has been keen to make a personal visit for some time.
The King will travel from Scotland to Southport today to meet with affected children and their families. He pictured visiting the floral tributes to the victims on Tuesday
King Charles appeared moved by the huge number of floral tributes left in Southport
The monarch also appeared to read some of the messages and tributes left in Southport
It comes after a fatal stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance class which left three children dead, including Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven (pictured)
Bebe King, six, was also killed in the horror attack in Southport last month
Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning after being rushed to hospital following the attack
But he wanted to wait until those affected were ready for a royal visit and there was less strain on emergency services in the region.
Charles, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, will fly down from Scotland where he is spending the summer.
After his private meeting with the children and their families he will then meet members of the Southport community outside the Town Hall.
Afterwards he will go to the nearby Southport Community Fire Station where he will met representatives from Merseyside’s emergency services and local community groups.
He will be met by regional leaders including the Mayors of the Liverpool City Region and Sefton, Steve Rotheram and Councillor Jane Burns, Sefton MP Patrick Hurley and Sefton Council leader, Marion Atkinson.
Inside the station he will hear from staff representing Merseyside’s Police, Fire and Rescue and Ambulance services about the roles responding to recent events and protecting people in the area.
He will also meet local groups impacted by the violent disorder in Southport, including faith leaders.
More than 50 police officers were injured as up to 1,000 people gathered outside a mosque after misinformation was spread online over the identity of the suspect in the killings.
More than 1,000 arrests were made nationally as the disorder spread and more than half of those charged.
Charles, 75, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is expected to fly from Balmoral. The King is pictured at the floral display in Southport on Tuesday
The huge display has been left in the wake of the tragic killings of three girls who were stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed summer party in the town last month
King Charles is pictured in the background of the floral display, which also includes a number of balloons and cuddly toys
King Charles is pictured inspecting some of the floral tributes in Southport on Tuesday
His Majesty arrived earlier on Tuesday to meet with the survivors and families of the victims of the tragic attack. King Charles is pictured arriving in Southport
Charles is seen surrounded by locals during his visit to Southport on Tuesday
Earlier this month it was revealed that the King had asked for ‘daily updates’ on the riots sparked by the Southport atrocity and could visit affected communities in the future on government advice.
It was understood that he was keen to be kept updated on the rapidly evolving situation.
He was also said to be engaging ‘privately’ around the issues that the shocking national unrest and violence had generated.
Buckingham Palace declined to go into detail of what form that engagement is taking.
But sources stressed that that His Majesty has spent much of his life, both as King and as Prince of Wales, working to encourage community cohesion and interfaith dialogue.
It came amid calls by some for the Royal Family to take a lead amid the national crisis.
However others pointed out that the King must be seen to be impartial, particularly given the vitriolic and hugely divisive level of political discourse around the rioting.
The King asked for daily updates on the riots which broke out after the fatal attack in Southport
In the town far-right yobs set a police van on fire as more than 1,000 people gathered following false information being shared on social media
The King was also said to be engaging ‘privately’ around the issues that the shocking national unrest and violence had generated
A tribute to those killed in the Southport attacks was held on the same night as unrest broke out in the town
Queen Elizabeth, notably, did not intervene by issuing any public message during the equally explosive summer 2011 riots, sparked by the killing of Mark Duggan by the Metropolitan Police.
She would also have refrained from speaking publicly around the issue on official advice.
Sources stressed that His Majesty was acutely conscious any immediate reaction to the trouble should by led by the Government.
He issued a public message in the aftermath of the tragic attacks.
But given the security requirements around a royal visit – and with policing stretched to the limit in affected areas – it would only happen at a time when it did not place any additional burden on frontline emergency services or risk inflaming the situation on the ground while the country was still such a tinderbox.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, will stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder, 10 counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
