King Charles III Meets Survivors of Stabbing Rampage in Southport

LONDON — King Charles III visited Southport on Tuesday to meet with survivors of a tragic stabbing incident that claimed the lives of three young girls in northern England. The monarch paid his respects by viewing flowers and teddy bears left in memory of the victims, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9. During a private meeting, he listened to the experiences of children who were present at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29, and later signed a book of condolence at Southport Town Hall, expressing his “deepest sympathy.” The king's visit comes amid a backdrop of unrest across Britain, where misinformation regarding the attack has led to anti-immigrant sentiments. Right-wing activists falsely claimed that a Muslim immigrant was responsible for the stabbings, igniting tensions in various communities. However, in Southport, the focus remains on honoring the young victims and supporting their families. Outside the Town Hall, crowds gathered to cheer the king, who also met with local children, including 13-year-olds Paige Whitby, Harriet Neal, and Naomi Taylor, along with 10-year-old Emie Todd. The children shared their efforts in raising £2,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital through a lemonade stand, expressing their excitement and nervousness at meeting the monarch. In addition to the survivors, King Charles spoke with emergency service workers who responded to the attack and local residents who provided support during the crisis. Among them were siblings Antony and Jenna Johnson, who offered free ice cream to children in the aftermath, aiming to bring comfort to a community shaken by fear.