Princess Kate meets Southport stabbing victims in first joint public engagement since ending cancer treatment
The Prince and Princess of Wales met emergency responders in front of the cameras in Southport
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The Prince and Princess of Wales have met with victims of and emergency responders from the Southport stabbings in a visit marking the couple's first joint public engagement since Kate's cancer treatment came to an end.
Kate met privately with the bereaved families of some of the stabbing victims, before greeting emergency services personnel in front of the cameras.
She and William had travelled together to Merseyside - and it was another breakthrough for the princess, with the trip marking her first official royal engagement outside of London since her diagnosis earlier this year.
The pair were pictured shaking hands with and thanking local air ambulance paramedics - who had rushed to the scene of the shocking attacks on July 29 this year.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met with vital emergency personnel who had responded to the attacks in July
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The princess looked animated as she spoke with heroic emergency personnel
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The couple met the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, all fatally stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport - as well as the children's dance teacher.
After spending around an hour and a half with the bereaved families, the Waleses walked over to Southport Community Centre where they joined emergency responders involved in the attack to hear about their experiences.
Kate and William also met health practitioners supporting the "blue light" community in Southport.
Kate was seen sporting a long brown coat and heels with her hair down - and looked serious as she spoke to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Peter Oliver, who greeted the couple in the town.
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The duo sat outside in dappled sunshine as they visited the scene of July's horror attacks
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The prince and princess spent half an hour with each of the family groups - but had been 45 minutes late arriving, prompting William to apologise to the waiting guests.
It is understood the engagement had initially been planned as a solo visit for William - but dutiful Kate then decided to join her husband in order to show her support, empathy and compassion for the local community.
In a poignant video released just over a month ago on September 9, Kate opened up on "looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months".
She has since been making a slow, managed return to public life - starting with her appearance at Trooping the Colour alongside the rest of the working royals.
PICTURED: Kate speaks to emergency personnel in Southport
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The prince and princess wore complementary outfits to the Merseyside town
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The pair looked serious as they spoke to the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Peter Oliver
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The couple shared drinks with representatives from all branches of the emergency services
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Then, a few weeks later, she stepped out again as she presented the Wimbledon men's final trophy to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
The princess, as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, was accompanied by her daughter Princess Charlotte - and was seen chatting to ball boys and girls before walking on to Centre Court amid rapturous applause.
Since then, Kate has gone to church in Balmoral with William and the King and Queen, privately attended a "moving" ballet performance at Sadler's Wells Theatre in central London, and has met with aides to plan her annual Christmas carol service in December.
It's understood the princess hopes to join the Royal Family at the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph on November 10.