LONDON (AP) — Prince William and the Princess of Wales on Thursday carried out their first joint public engagement since the end of Kate’s chemotherapy by meeting the grieving parents of victims of a stabbing in the seaside town of Southport.
The royal couple spent 90 minutes meeting privately with the families of Baby King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, who were killed at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29. Their teacher.
The couple later met with emergency workers at a community center, telling them how much their efforts had helped the victims’ families.
“I cannot understate how grateful they all are for the support you provided that day,” Kate said. “On their behalf, thank you.”
William and Kate sat next to each other on a bench and listened to their stories. Once the cameras left, Kate hugged the respondents who were struggling to express their emotions.
“You are all heroes,” William said. “Please make sure you take care of yourselves, please take your time, don’t rush back to work.”
Last March, the Princess of Wales revealed that she was undergoing cancer treatment, in a stunning announcement that followed weeks of speculation about her health and whereabouts.
The princess revealed her condition in a video message that followed ongoing speculation on social media that began when she was admitted to hospital for unspecified abdominal surgery in January.
In a recent video, Kate said she has completed chemotherapy, and plans to slowly return to her public duties and “make some public appearances” in the coming months.
But she acknowledged that the road to recovery will be long and that she will “take each day as it comes.”
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