King Charles visits memorial for three girls killed at British Taylor Swift dance class
King Charles paid tribute to the three young girls who died while attending a Taylor Swift dance class, showing his support to those affected and to society.
On Tuesday, August 2, the monarch was seen walking among the many flowers, stuffed animals and balloons placed in honour of 6-year-old Bebe King, 7-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe and 9-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar, all three of whom were killed on July 29 while attending a children’s dance class in Southport, England.
Accordingly PeopleKing Charles came to the town hall to meet privately “with the families and some of the children who were at the event when the attack happened.”
Three hours before the meeting, Buckingham Palace announced the King’s travel plans.
“His Majesty The King will travel to Southport to express his continued support to the victims of the July 29 attack and the subsequent unrest in the town, and to thank frontline emergency personnel for their continued work serving local people,” the palace said in a statement.
King Charles III views the tributes outside Southport Town Hall during his visit to members of the local community following the July 29 attack on a children’s dance party on August 20, 2024 in Southport, England.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
A crowd of community members and royal spectators then turned out to greet the king, who reportedly waved and took the time to shake his hand.
After meeting with the families directly affected by the attack, King Charles reportedly “spent time with members of the Southport community,” People, before visiting the ever-growing memorial in honour of the victims.
Following the fatal attack, which also injured several children and two adults, a 17-year-old teenager was arrested and charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
Due to a flood of misinformation on the internet claiming that the child was an immigrant, riots broke out in the community, leaving over 50 officers injured and buildings and cars on fire.
Shortly after the incident, Prince William and Princess Kate issued a rare joint statement condemning the attack and expressing their regret and condolences.
King Charles III reacts as he views the laying of flowers and balloons for the victims of the Southport stabbing.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
“As parents, we cannot even begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today must be going through,” the couple wrote on Instagram. “We send our love, thoughts and prayers to everyone involved in this horrific and heinous attack.”
“Thank you also to the emergency workers who, despite the most horrific scenes, showed compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most,” they added.
In their own statement, King Charles and Queen Camilla sent their “heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathy” to those affected, while expressing their deep shock “to hear of this absolutely appalling incident.”
Pop star Taylor Swift recently met two young girls who had survived the attack backstage at her “Eras Tour” show in London.
“The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport continues to overwhelm me and I am simply in complete shock,” Swift wrote in a statement she shared on her Instagram stories after the attack.
“The loss of life and innocence and the horrific trauma inflicted on everyone present, the families and the first responders,” she continued. “These were just little kids in a dance class. I don’t know how I can ever express my condolences to these families.”
