by Mick the Ram

King Charles III has spent some time with the bereaved families of the three little girls who were so cruelly taken from them in the frenzied knife attack in Southport at the end of July.

He held a private audience at Clarence House with the relatives of nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and Bebe King, who was just six-years-old.

The youngsters had been enjoying a Taylor Swift-themed event in the seaside town near Liverpool, when they were subjected to a horrifying assault, which cost the children their lives and a further eight youngsters all under the age of eleven were injured, along with two adults who bravely tried to protect them all.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, a teenager from a nearby village has been charged with their murder and is currently remanded in custody, and due to appear next at Liverpool Crown Court in October.

The king’s meeting followed his visit to the Lancashire town 24 hours earlier, where talked with some of the survivors and viewed the many tributes.

Balmoral can wait

King Charles suspended his traditional Balmoral break so that he could meet with the familes of the victims and pay his own respects in a personal visit to Southport.

The private Clarence House meeting quite rightly remained just that, and whilst the shock and grief of losing their children in such horrifying circumstances will undoubtedly still be incredibly raw, hopefully the heartbroken relatives will have been able to take some comfort.

Emotional meeting

The two youngest girls died at the scene, with the third sadly losing her fight for life later at hospital.

At the time the King and Queen Camilla sent their “heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies” and the meeting will have given him the opportunity to express those words with even more depth and feeling

King meets survivors

The day before, he had arrived in Southport to be greeted by hundreds of the seaside town’s residents.

He took his time to visit the floral tributes and many toys left at the scene of the tragic incident, and chatted with members of the public.

He then met some of the surviving children and spoke at length with them, giving them all a huge boost after their shocking ordeal.

Personal message

The King then signed the Book of Condolences which has been created and used his own fountain pen to write his name and the date, before adding “In deepest sympathy”.

Charles also met with some of the emergency responders and community figures who became involved on that terrible day.

Brave witness thankful to the King

Businessman John Hayes had been one of the first people on the scene when the stabbings took place and received wounds to his leg, which required surgery.

Walking with the aid of crutches he said: “It was lovely to meet him; I found him quite engaging, and quite easy to talk to. I think he only arrived in Balmoral yesterday so for him to come all the way to Southport today to see people is very kind of him.”

The other adult seriously injured in the attack, teacher Leanne Lucas, unfortunately could not attend the visit as she has had to be re-admitted to hospital.

MP impressed with empathy

Local MP, Patrick Hurley, remarked how empathetic the King had been, saying: “He was very keen to express his sympathy and to make sure the people of Southport know that from the symbolism perspective, the country’s heart goes out to the people here.”

“Special Day”

Several vigils have taken place for the girls and there were large attendances at the funerals for Alice and Bebe.

The funeral for Elsie will take place on Friday 23 August, and has been given the title: “Elsie’s Special Day”.