Britain’s Prince and Princess of Wales paid a surprise visit to Southport, northwest England, on Thursday, where they visited the relatives of three youngsters slain in a knife attack in July.

Catherine, often known as Kate, made her first public appearance after completing her chemotherapy treatment.

On July 29, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, were tragically murdered while taking a Taylor Swift-themed dance lesson in the town.

The royal couple visited privately with the three young girls’ relatives and their dance teacher, who was there throughout the incident.

Kate Joins Prince William For Her First Public Appearance Since Ending Cancer Treatment

William and Kate, who have only made a few public appearances this year, also met with emergency workers who attended the site in July, as well as mental health professionals who have been assisting the “blue light” community in the months after.

During the highly emotional meeting, Kate told the responders, “I can’t underestimate how grateful they [the families] all are for the support you provided on the day,” according to Britain’s PA Media news agency. She thanked the frontline staff on behalf of the families.

Meanwhile, William, the heir to the British throne, addressed the group as “heroes” and advised them to “make sure you look after yourselves.”

“Please take your time, don’t rush back to work,” he went on.

Following their surprising appearance in Southport, William and Kate posted about their “powerful” visit on social media.

“We will continue to stand with everyone in Southport.” Meeting the community today was a strong reminder of the need to help one another in the aftermath of unspeakable sorrow. “You will be in our thoughts and prayers,” the couple said in a post on X.

At the time of the knife attack, the Waleses stated on social media from the standpoint of parents. “We cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends, and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through,” they said in July, before expressing their “love, thoughts, and prayers” and gratitude to emergency personnel.

The couple also donated through their royal foundation to a fundraiser set up to provide psychological and physical rehabilitation to police and paramedic professionals engaged in the attack and following disturbances.

CNN understands that the princess decided to accompany her husband on Thursday to demonstrate her support, understanding, and sympathy for the local population.

Kate, 42, has been gradually returning to public life since announcing in a video last month that she had completed chemotherapy and was cancer-free. She has not stated which type of cancer she is being treated for.

Kate Joins Prince William For Her First Public Appearance Since Ending Cancer Treatment

The princess stated that the previous nine months had been difficult, but that “I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

In recent weeks, she has held a series of meetings centered on her early childhood work and the forthcoming annual Christmas carol event.

She also paid a private visit to the English National Ballet a few weeks ago for a matinee performance, which she described as “moving and inspiring” on social media.

The Wales are not the only royals who have shown their solidarity for the grieving families and the Southport community. King Charles III paid a similar visit to the area in August to meet with those injured by the attack and thank first responders.

SOURCE | CNN

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican stated that Pope Francis will go to Belgium and Luxembourg later this week, after canceling all of his audiences on Monday due to a “slight flu-like state.”

Matteo Bruni, a Vatican spokesperson, stated that the cancellation affected only Monday’s audiences. He spoke with reporters before the official start of his Vatican briefing to provide details about the trip.

Earlier this morning, the Vatican stated that Francis had canceled his Monday audiences as a “precaution.”

Francis is scheduled to visit Luxembourg on Thursday before spending the rest of the week in Belgium, culminating with a Mass in Brussels on Sunday.

Vatican Confirms Plans For Belgium, Luxembourg Trip After Pope Cancels Audiences Due To Illness

The 87-year-old pope, who has been using a wheelchair for two years, has faced several health issues in recent years, including having part of one lung removed as a young man due to a respiratory ailment.

He has had a full schedule of audiences since returning from a four-nation, 11-day trip through Asia on September 13, the longest and farthest trip of his pontificate. The audiences have included many talks with visiting bishops, individual audiences with his Vatican aides, and a large gathering on Friday with members of popular movements.

The Holy See press office described Francis as being in a “flu-like state.” Francis had acute bronchitis and recurring attacks of influenza throughout the autumn and winter, forcing him to abandon a quick trip to Dubai in November to attend the United Nations climate conference.

According to the Vatican, he did so at the advice of his doctors.

In Belgium, Francis will commemorate the 600th anniversary of the country’s main Catholic universities and minister to Belgians who have been shaken by years of persistent disclosures of clergy sexual abuse and cover-ups.

The rigorous Asia journey, followed by visits to Belgium and Luxembourg, was already going to put Francis’ health to the test, especially as he enters a hectic autumn season. As soon as he returns from Belgium, he will preside over a three-week synod, or bishops’ assembly, that will include long days of closed-door discussion over the church’s future.

Vatican Confirms Plans For Belgium, Luxembourg Trip After Pope Cancels Audiences Due To Illness

On Monday, Francis had scheduled audiences with members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, who are meeting at the Vatican this week for their plenary assembly, as well as participants in a Christmas contest. The Vatican revealed the texts that Francis was meant to have given to both.

Francis has experienced various health issues in recent years. In 2023, he spent three days in the hospital receiving intravenous antibiotics for a respiratory infection. In 2021, he had 13 inches (33 centimetres) of his colon removed, followed by another surgery two years later to treat an abdominal hernia and remove scar tissue.

SOURCE | AP

LONDON — Kate, the Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance Sunday since announcing that she had finished chemotherapy and will resume some public duties.

Kate, The Princess Of Wales, Makes First Public Appearance After Cancer Treatment

Kate and her husband, Prince William, were seen Sunday attending church with King Charles III and Queen Camilla near their Scottish royal residence, Balmoral.

Kate, 42, announced on September 9 that she had finished treatment six months after discovering she had an unidentified type of cancer. Her declaration came six weeks after Buckingham Palace revealed the monarch was being treated for cancer.

In a video revealing her progress, she stated that the road to full recovery would be long, and she would tackle it day by day. She stated that she would do some limited engagements through the end of the year.

Kate, The Princess Of Wales, Makes First Public Appearance After Cancer Treatment

The princess made two public appearances earlier this year, despite the fact that she was largely absent from public life during her treatment. She first appeared during the King’s Birthday Parade in June, often known as Trooping the Colour, and most recently during the Wimbledon men’s final in July, where she received a standing ovation.

SOURCE | AP