Royal news live: Kate Middleton meets families of Southport victims with William in surprise joint appearance
The Prince and Princess of Wales had undertaken their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment
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The Princess of Wales has made a surprise joint appearance with Prince William to meet the bereaved families of the Southport attacks today.
Marking their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment, the couple privately met the bereaved families in Merseyside.
The Princess is said to have attended because she wanted to show her “support, empathy and compassion to the local community”.
As well as meeting with the victim’s families, Kate spoke to first responders and the dance teacher who was present at the July attack.
Meanwhile, King Charles has issued a statement expressing his “greatest sadness” after the death of inspirational Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert.
Ms Ebert won global praise for speaking out about her experience of Auschwitz, where she lost her mother, younger sister, and brother to the gas chambers.
She passed away peacefully at the age of 100 yesterday (10 October), having previously met the King in 2022 after he commissioned a portrait of her.
The monarch said: “It was with the greatest sadness that I heard this morning the news of Lily Ebert’s death.
“As a survivor of the unmentionable horrors of the Holocaust, I am so proud that she later found a home in Britain where she continued to tell the world of the horrendous atrocities she had witnessed.
“Her extraordinary resilience and courage [are] an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”
Kate and William reflect on poignant Southport visit
The Prince and Princess of Wales have reflected on their poignant visit to Southport yesterday to meet those affected by July’s devastating attacks.
Taking to Twitter/X, they wrote on the official Kensington Palace account: “We continue to stand with everyone in Southport.
“Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy.
“You will remain in our thoughts and prayers. W & C”
The visit was the couple’s first joint engagement since the princess completed her cancer treatment.
We continue to stand with everyone in Southport. Meeting the community today has been a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting one another in the wake of unimaginable tragedy. You will remain in our thoughts and prayers. W & C pic.twitter.com/CP2DXJaqW2
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2024
Full story: Kate and William meet families of Southport victims in first joint engagement since end of cancer treatment
The Prince and Princess of Wales have made their first joint public appearance since Kate finished cancer treatment, as they met the bereaved families of the Southport knife attack on Thursday.
Kate and William spent 90 minutes chatting privately with them after making an unannounced visit to the town.
At an undisclosed location, the couple privately 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 on 29 July in Southport, as well as the children’s dance teacher.
Read the full story below:
Kate and William meet Southport victims’ families in first job since cancer treatment
Kate has been slowly returning to a light programme of public duties
King to host Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace for incoming state visit
The Emir of Qatar is to pay a state visit to the UK hosted by the King, Buckingham Palace has announced.
Charles and the Queen will welcome Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, to London on December 3.
They can expect to be feted with a traditional ceremonial welcome on Horse Guards Parade and a grand state banquet at Buckingham Palace during the two-day incoming state visit.
Charles has visited Qatar eight times as the Prince of Wales and met the Emir at the Cop28 summit in Dubai in December. The Qatari leader and Sheikha Jawaher also attended the King’s coronation in Westminster Abbey, and the late Queen’s funeral.
The Qatari royal family is one of the richest in the world, with a reported fortune running into the billions.
Sheikh Tamim, 44, was educated in Britain, attending public schools Sherborne and Harrow, before graduating from the Sandhurst military academy. He set up Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) in 2005, which owns the French football team Paris Saint-Germain.
Qatar – one of the richest Gulf states – is a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war and the ruling Emir is likely to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks at Downing Street during his stay.
King to join PM at reception for UK’s international investment summit
The King will join Sir Keir Starmer in meeting business leaders from across the world at a reception linked to the Labour Government’s first major investment summit.
Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles’ attendance at the event, which will take place on Monday evening at St Paul’s Cathedral following the summit.
Alongside the Prime Minister, he will meet guests from sectors including technology, energy and the performing arts.
The reception will be held after around 300 industry leaders gather in London for the Government’s flagship investment summit, at which Sir Keir will pitch the UK as “open for business” as part of his bid to drive growth into the country.
It is not the first time Charles has attended such an event, having hosted former premier Rishi Sunak at a similar reception at Buckingham Palace last year to conclude 2023’s UK Global Investment Summit.
Watch back our event: What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like?
These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s premium event on the future of the royal family.
Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler.
Watch the full event here. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
What do the royal family need to do to stay relevant?
Can the royal family and King Charles adapt to the modern age and stay relevant? Will Harry be able to rejoin The Firm? And what will the next generation of royalty be like? These and more questions from our audience were answered in The Independent’s virtual event on the future of the royal family. Hosted by assistant editor Victoria Harper, the panel features bestselling authors Anna Pasternak and Tessa Dunlop, plus royal historian Jonathan Spangler. If you enjoy our virtual events, please consider supporting The Independent with a donation or by subscribing to Independent Premium.
Sarah Ferguson praises King Charles’s visit to cancer treatment centre
The Duchess of York has praised King Charles’s decision earlier this year to return to duty by visiting a cancer treatment centre.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, she said: “I love when the King went to the Cancer Research UK [in April] and actually sat on the sofa.
“And of course, it’s coming from a place of empathy, because he does understand, and… yesterday, the first time when I was sitting there with someone, it’s not just ‘I understand’ – patronising. It’s ‘I know’.”
Sarah, 64, yesterday visited a cancer treatment centre in Manchester, having also recently battled the disease.
In pictures: Prince and Princess of Wales carry out first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment
Royal family marks World Homelessness Day
The royal family has marked World Homelessness Day, which is taking place today (10 October).
In a post shared to Twitter/X, they congratulated walkers for their extraordinary achievement of walking 450 miles, through 11 countries over a six-week period in aid of an anti-homelessness charity.
It read: “Congratulations to Chloe, Jagger, Peter, Cecile and Lorie on your extraordinary achievement! The walkers have been raising money for homelessness charity Emmaus, of which The Queen is Patron.”
A link was then shared for anyone who wishes to donate to the cause. It can be found here.
Congratulations to Chloe, Jagger, Peter, Cecile and Lorie on your extraordinary achievement!
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 10, 2024
The walkers have been raising money for homelessness charity Emmaus, of which The Queen is Patron. Find out more about the charity’s work: https://t.co/le1L5clsUs#WorldHomelessDay https://t.co/xpNVbBBGaH
Prince and Princess of Wales highlight importance of parental wellbeing
This World Mental Health Day, the Prince and Princess of Wales have highlighted the importance of parental wellbeing.
They did so by sharing a video from Kate’s Early Years project, which sees members of its Business Taskforce discuss the subject.
“It is vital that we look after the mental health and well-being of parents and carers because this has a significant impact on the children that they are raising,” a contributor said.
You can watch the video below:
Members of the @EarlyChildhood Business Taskforce including @IKEAUK, @IcelandFoods and @Lego_Group highlight parental wellbeing is vital in helping them to be their best selves at work and at home.https://t.co/EFItkEJbjo
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2024
Kate and William’s visit a ‘massive boost’ for Southport
The Prince and Princess of Wales’s visit to Southport today has been described as a “massive boost” to those affected by July’s atrocity.
Former chief constable Andy Rhodes, who is involved in The Royal Foundation’s Blue Light Together programme, said: “To have somebody clearly as passionate and genuine about supporting them and their mental health to come and speak to them is a massive boost.”
He also said the future king and queen “genuinely listened” to the people they spoke to.
He added: “It was quite emotional. It is still raw for people.”
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