Kate makes unexpected first public appearance after completing chemotherapy

The Princess of Wales made an unexpected appearance alongside the Prince of Wales during a visit to Southport, where they privately met with the families of three children who were tragically killed in a knife attack in July.

This marked Catherine’s first official public engagement since completing her chemotherapy treatment.

According to royal sources, Catherine joined Prince William to show her "support, empathy, and compassion" for the local community. The couple also spoke with emergency responders who were on the scene during the attack in the northwest seaside town. Catherine embraced several emergency workers, with fire chief Phil Garrigan noting that "she could see the emotion in them."

Originally planned as a low-key event, the visit was intended to give the couple time with the bereaved families and a dance teacher who was present during the attack. However, Catherine's appearance was a surprise, as she has made only a few public appearances this year after announcing her cancer diagnosis. Dressed in a long brown coat with autumnal tones, Catherine arrived with Prince William to meet the families and emergency workers, whom Prince William described as "heroes."

Now that her chemotherapy has ended, Catherine is gradually resuming royal duties. Last month, she held meetings related to her early years campaign. However, this visit to Southport is considered her most significant public engagement since her treatment.

Catherine has spoken about having "good days and bad days," and Kensington Palace has cautioned that her schedule may remain flexible, with last-minute changes possible. The Southport visit was meant to reassure the community that it had "not been forgotten." During the visit, the royal couple learned about efforts to unite the community after the knife attack and the subsequent riots. The victims, Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, were tragically killed on July 29, 2024, during an attack on a children's dance group.

The couple spent 90 minutes speaking with the children’s families and later passed on their gratitude to the emergency responders during a meeting at the Southport Community Centre. Catherine expressed her appreciation to the emergency workers, telling them they had supported the families through their "darkest times," adding: "On behalf of them, thank you."

The attack also left ten others injured, eight of whom were children.

Axel Rudakubana, 17, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. During the visit, the royal couple stressed the importance of mental health and well-being to the emergency workers, encouraging them to take care of themselves after such a traumatic event.

"The first thing we thought about was how on earth you guys are going to handle what you’ve seen. So please take your time, don’t rush back to work, and do whatever you need," said Prince William, who, along with Catherine, has been a strong advocate for mental health awareness.

The couple had also contributed to a fundraiser aimed at providing both physical and psychological support for police and ambulance staff involved in the attack and the subsequent riots.

On social media, Prince William and Catherine described their visit to Southport as a "powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy."Former chief constable Andy Rhodes called the royal visit a "massive boost" for emergency workers, acknowledging that the emotional toll from the event is still very raw for many.