King Charles arrives in Southport to meet survivors of Southport stabbings

Crowds were cheering as King Charles arrived in Southport this afternoon to meet the survivors of the Southport stabbings and their families.

King Charles III arrived in Southport today, 20 August, for a private visit to meet the survivors affected by the Southport stabbings that shocked the nation.

Crowds cheered as the King arrived at Southport Town Hall shortly after 1.30pm, where tributes have been left outside in memory Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, who all died in the attack.

Charles stopped to look at the memorials and greet some of those gathered before going inside the building to meet some of the children who survived the attack, their families and the police liaison team working with them.

The King is due to meet with the three bereaved families in London on Wednesday.

King Charles - Southport. Image: Paul Ellis/PA. — King Charles – Southport. Image: Paul Ellis/PA.

Hundreds of bunches of flowers and cuddly toys have been laid near the town hall, where a vigil was held the night after the attack.

The King walked around the tributes, waving to the crowd and shaking some hands and was applauded as he walked into the building.

Balloons in the shape of stars, hearts, a disco ball and the girls’ ages were among the tributes and messages were placed in frames, covered with plastic to preserve them, including one which read: “God has gained three beautiful new angels… May you dance forever in heaven and be at peace.”

People began to gather outside the town hall from about 11.30am to catch a glimpse of the King.

Later, Charles will be welcomed by local politicians at Southport Community Fire Station and will hear from Merseyside’s police, fire and rescue and ambulance services about their roles during the disturbances, as well as meeting local groups, including faith leaders.

Flowers and tributes have been left outside the Atkinson Art Centre Southport to the young victims. Image: Owen Humphreys/PA.

Following the attack last month, rioting broke out in Southport and across the country.

The disorder included looting, with hotels housing asylum seekers also attacked before counter-demonstrations appeared to quell the disturbances.

The violence, denounced as “far-right thuggery” by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, was sparked by false claims about the identity of a teenage suspect later charged with three counts of murder.

The family of the final child to be released from hospital earlier this month condemned the “disorder” and attacks on police officers, emphasising that “when the horrific events unfolded, our police officers were the first on the scene”.

The King has been engaging privately with the issues generated by the disorder which has seen hundreds arrested.

Following the Southport stabbings Charles, at his request, received daily briefings about the national situation when the disorder was at its height.

It is not known what issues he has been focusing on, but he is a long-term promoter of inter-faith dialogue as a way to bring groups together and has championed community cohesion.

The violent disturbances left some Muslim communities fearful following the targeting of mosques in a few areas.

During separate telephone calls earlier this month with the Prime Minister and senior police chiefs, the King called for unity and praised the “community spirit” that countered the riots, and offered his “heartfelt thanks” to the police for restoring order.

Axel Rudakubana, 18, has been charged with the murder of the three girls in Merseyside.

He is also charged with the attempted murder of yoga class instructor Leanne Lucas, businessman John Hayes, and eight children, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and possession of a kitchen knife with a curved blade.