Making a break from his summer holiday at Balmoral Castle, The King visited Southport to meet local community and emergency services, after three girls died in a knife attack at their summer holiday dance group.
Arriving at Southport Town Hall, Charles was greeted by Dr Ruth Hussey, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and Counsellor June Burns.
Charles met members of the local community. (Royal Family)
His Majesty viewed the vast floral tributes to Bebe King, six, Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
King Charles also took the opportunity to speak with members of the local community who had gathered, and echoes of cheers were heard from the crowds. One person shouted ‘thank you for coming’.
The King told one woman: ‘Look at all the flowers’ and said he hoped the crowds had not been waiting too long for his arrival. One individual also asked His Majesty how he was feeling after his cancer diagnosis, to which he replied ‘I’m not too bad’.
King Charles III looks at floral tributes during a visit to Southport, following the killing of three children and the riot in the town
Ten others were seriously injured in the attach, including yoga teacher, Leanne Lucas, 35, who has recently been readmitted to hospital.
Businessman John Hayes was one of the first people on the scene, and was left in a critical condition after being stabbed in the leg as he tried to stop the attack. He spoke to BBC News and said it was ‘fabulous’ to meet the Monarch and ‘found him quite engaging, quite easy to talk to’.
Charles then proceeded to enter the Town Hall, where he signed a book of condolence and met privately with some of the families affected by the recent knife attack in town.
Riots began in Southport after the incident, seeing it spread to other British towns and cities – though many had remarked that people were using the girls’ deaths as an excuse for anti-immigration rhetoric instead. Anti-protests were set up across the UK.
Later, The King met representatives from Merseyside’s emergency services and local community groups at Southport Community Fire Station.
His Majesty heard from staff representing Merseyside’s Police, Fire and Rescue and Ambulance services about their roles in recent events and protecting people in the area. Charles also met local groups impacted by the violent disorder in Southport, including faith leaders.
Patrick Hurley, MP for Sefton, which includes Southport, met the King at the fire station, and said afterwards: ‘The town’s emotions were raging and they still are very raw and he was very empathetic.
‘He was very keen to express his sympathy and empathy. Very keen to make sure the people of Southport know that from the symbolism perspective, the country’s heart goes out to the people here.’
