King Charles suspends Balmoral holiday to meet Southport stabbing victims’ families

King Charles has today met bereaved families of the Southport knife attack to express his condolences for their loss.

Charles suspended his traditional Balmoral break to hold a private meeting at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace said. The monarch yesterday expressed his “deepest sympathy” with the victims of the horrific Southport knife attack that claimed the lives of three schoolgirls.

On a visit to the town united in grief over the July 29 murders, the monarch met survivors and their families affected by the tragedy. Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were killed when a knifeman entered a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club at the Hart Space Community Centre to carry out the atrocity, leaving 10 others seriously injured.

King Charles visibly moved by sea of heartbreaking Southport attack tributes as he greets locals
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, who were killed in the Southport knife attack
Alice Dasilva Aguiar, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, who were killed in the Southport knife attack
Last week global superstar Swift reached out in private to the bereaved families of the Southport victims, before taking to the stage at Wembley on Thursday night for her first gig since the tragedy.

As part of his efforts to foster community cohesion and pay tribute to those affected by the Southport attacks, the King spent half an hour yesterday meeting the groups of survivors to the horror in private before signing a book of condolence that was opened shortly after the incident which shocked the nation.

In it, Charles used his own fountain pen to write his name and the date, adding “In deepest sympathy.” The monarch later met members of the Southport community outside the Town Hall as well as representatives from Merseyside’s emergency services and local community groups at Southport Community Fire Station.

The King views the floral tributes at Southport Town Hall
The King views the floral tributes at Southport Town Hall ( Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Royal aides said the King was keen to travel to the town to stand united with those who had suffered but also thank the emergency services who dealt with widespread riots by far-right thugs in the days that followed. On the day of the attack, the King released a written statement saying he was “profoundly shocked” to hear of the “utterly horrific incident”.

He added: “We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack.”

The King’s visit comes after he urged unity in the face of riots that swept the country following the attacks. In calls made to both Sir Keir Starmer and police chiefs earlier this month, he expressed hope that “mutual respect and understanding” would unite the nation.

The monarch also said he had been “greatly encouraged by the many examples of community spirit that had countered the aggression and criminality from a few with the compassion and resilience of the many” and offered his “heartfelt thanks” to the police for restoring order.