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Agence France-Presse

Kate, Princess of Wales and Prince William on Thursday made their first joint public engagement since she ended a course of chemotherapy for cancer, Kensington Palace announced.
The couple visited Southport in northwest England, “to show support to the community and hear how local people have come together as the town recovers” from a July knife attack that killed three children, the palace said.
The princess and William met members of the emergency services who attended after the stabbing spree at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, which also left eight children and two adults wounded.
The couple, both 42, heard “about their experiences of responding to the attack and the impact it has had on their mental health”, their office said in a statement.

The royals also met mental health practitioners who have been supporting emergency responders since the attack.
Having met the families of the victims of the July 29 rampage earlier in the day, Kate told the emergency workers “how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day”.
“On behalf of them, thank you,” she said, according to Britain’s Press Association (PA) news agency.
Away from the cameras, Kate hugged some of the attendees after they became emotional, it was reported.
William told the responders: “You’re all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don’t rush back to work.”
The Kensington Palace statement said that ensuring emergency responders receive long-term mental health support following traumatic events was a cause “close to the heart” of William.
It noted the heir to the British throne has “first-hand experience as an emergency responder while serving as a pilot” for a civilian air ambulance service and in the military flying search and rescue helicopters.

Kate announced on September 9 that she had finished chemotherapy treatment and was striving to be cancer-free.
In a highly emotional video message following her shock diagnosis that saw her stay out of the public eye for months, she said she was on a long road to “full recovery”.
A week later, she took a first step towards returning to work on the early-years development of children, meeting with staff from the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood which she established.
It was seen as a further positive sign that Kate was making good progress in her cancer battle and tentatively returning to public duties.
Her health woes have coincided with father-in-law King Charles also receiving treatment following his own cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The 75-year-old monarch was given the green light to resume public duties in April. Neither royal has disclosed what type of cancer they had.
Footage of Thursday’s engagement showed Kate arriving at a Southport community centre after meeting privately with the families of the attack victims and a dance teacher who was injured on July 29.
She and William spent around half an hour with each of the three family groups and were 45 minutes late arriving at the centre, PA reported.
William could be heard apologising to the waiting guests on arrival, it added.

Unrest and riots erupted in English towns and cities in the week that followed the events in Southport, with authorities blaming misinformation over the identity of the alleged attacker.
Axel Rudakubana, who was aged 17 at the time, has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the stabbing spree.
He is expected in court this month for a hearing.


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Britain

UK’s William and Kate in first joint public engagement since princess’s cancer treatment

Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, speak to members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport Community Centre to meet rescuers and the families of those caught up in the Southport knife attack earlier this year, in Southport, England, UK on Thursday. Photo: AP

William and Kate in Southport, UK on Thursday. Photo: Pool Photo via AP

William and Kate meet a paramedic in Southport, UK on Thursday. Photo: Pool Photo via AP

Police officers try to restrain a protester in Liverpool on August 3 during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration held in reaction to the fatal stabbings in Southport on July 29. Photo: AFP

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Harrods department store in London. Photo: Reuters

Mohamed al-Fayed in 2010. The Egyptian billionaire died last year. Photo: Reuters

Three of al-Fayed’s accusers (left to right) Katherine (no surname given), Lindsay Mason and Gemma (no surname given), after a London press conference about the legal claim against Harrods for failing to provide a safe system of work for its employees. Photo: PA via AP

UK’s King Charles meets survivors of Southport child stabbings that sparked riots

Britain’s King Charles meets with people affected by and family members of the victims of a mass stabbing attack in Southport, Britain, on August 20. Photo: Reuters

A woman looks at tributes that are left the Atkinson art centre in Southport, England after three young girls were killed in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club. Photo: AP

English town of Southport mourns 9-year-old stabbing victim, calls for end to unrest

Alexandra and Sergio Aguiar, the parents of Alice da Silva Aguiar, stand near her coffin at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, in Southport, UK on Sunday. Photo: Reuters

The coffin of Alice da Silva Aguiar on a horse-drawn carriage near St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Southport, UK on Sunday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Alice da Silva Aguiar at the Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport, UK on July 29. Photo: Family photo via AP

UK police to charge 17-year-old with murder over Southport child killings

Protestors remonstrate with police during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration outside the entrance to 10 Downing Street in London on Wednesday, held in reaction the government’s response to the fatal stabbings of children in Southport. Photo: AFP

People assemble at the start of the ‘Enough is Enough’ protest in Whitehall, London on Wednesday. Photo: PA Wire / dpa

Police clash with protesters in Whitehall, London on Wednesday. Photo: PA via AP

Police stand guard outside the Southport Islamic Society Mosque in Southport, northwest England, on Wednesday a day after clashes following a deadly knife attack. Photo: AFP

The three girls who died in the attack, from left, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Bebe King and Alice Dasilva Aguiar. Photo: Merseyside Police / Handout via Reuters

UK police officers injured in violent outbreaks following fatal Southport stabbing

A demonstrator throws a brick during a protest in Liverpool, England, on Saturday. Photo: PA via AP

Police officers in riot gear gesture with batons during the ‘Enough is Enough’ demonstration in Liverpool on Saturday. Photo: AFP

A man is detained by police officers during a protest in Nottingham Market Square, England, on Saturday. Photo: PA via AP

News

World

Europe

Couple visited Southport ‘to show support to the community’ after a July knife attack that killed 3 children, Kensington palace said


Couple visited Southport ‘to show support to the community’ after a July knife attack that killed 3 children, Kensington palace said.
