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.”
Princess of Wales hugs bereaved Southport families
The chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service has revealed that the Princess of Wales hugged the families bereaved by the Southport stabbings.
Phil Garrigan said he had a “really lovely fleeting conversation” with both Kate and William.
He added: “The Princess of Wales broke off and came back into the building to give a hug to the people who responded because she could see the emotion in them and could see it was difficult for them to relay their feelings and to say how impactful events have been.
“I think that just shows a really caring side and is very, very touching for them.”
It is believed that the visit was planned as a solo engagement for William, but Kate, who has recently finished chemotherapy, wanted to attend to show her support as well.
Prince and Princess of Wales carry out first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment
The Prince and Princess of Wales have carried out their first joint engagement since Kate’s cancer treatment today.
They visited Southport to privately meet with the bereaved families of the Southport attacks, as well as the dance teacher who was present and first responders.
Kate, 42, is said to have wanted to attend to show her “support, empathy and compassion to the local community”.
Duchess of York ‘so moved’ by Kate’s cancer video
The Duchess of York has said that she was “so moved” by the recent video announcing that the Princess of Wales has completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Sarah, 64, who has also recently experienced cancer, told ITV’s This Morning that she loved how Kate is “showing the world what it is to really look after yourself”.
“I think that’s extraordinary, what’s she doing,” she added, describing the video, which featured Prince William and the Wales children as “just incredible”.
William and Kate mark World Mental Health Day
The Prince and Princess of Wales have revealed the organisations that have inspired them for World Mental Health Day (10 October).
Taking to Twitter/X, they wrote on the official Kensington Palace account: “A #WorldMentalHealthDay thread with people who’ve inspired us and resources that could help you or those you know who may be struggling.”
The couple then recommended organisations including YoungMindsUK to any young people who are struggling, MindCharity, as well as the Matrix Project in the West Midlands.
A #WorldMentalHealthDay thread with people who've inspired us and resources that could help you or those you know who may be struggling ⬇️
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 10, 2024
Duke of Edinburgh speaks of ‘deep and sincere’ affection for Queen Elizabeth II
The Duke of Edinburgh has opened up about the Maltese people’s “deep and sincere” affection for his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Edward, 60, made the revelations at the residence of the High Commissioner on a four-day trip to the country to mark the 60th anniversary of its independence.
The late Elizabeth and Philip lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951, during the early part of her marriage to Philip, who was stationed there as an officer in the Royal Navy.
Prince Edward said: “The other thing that comes across so strongly is the very deep and sincere affection that so many people on this island have for my parents and that very special time that they had here with their young family, and it was lovely to visit the villa where they stayed during that time.
“The number of people who have said, ‘Have you been to the villa and are you going to go and see it?’, it obviously means a great deal to everybody here.”
Prince William makes plea for new Jason Bourne film at Baftas
Prince William took the opportunity to personally request a new Jason Bourne film during a visit to Bafta’s offices in central London.
He jokingly made the request to director Paul Greengrass, clasping his hands together and saying “Another Bourne, another Bourne”.
The visit was made to celebrate the work of young people in the film and creative industry and the prince met with those who had received a bursary in his name as part of the visit.
Princess of Wales quietly uploads new picture of herself and Prince William
The Princess of Wales has quietly uploaded a new picture of herself and Prince William to the official Kensington Palace Instagram account - featuring an outtake from their Paris Olympics video.
It is now the cover for the account’s August Instagram Stories highlight and features the pair in blue polo shirts.
The video itself was initially uploaded two months ago and saw the couple congratulate Team GB for their efforts at the Paris Olympics and express their personal enjoyment of the event itself.
King Charles speaks of ‘greatest sadness’ after heartbreaking death
King Charles has issued a statement expressing his “greatest sadness” after the death of inspirational Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert.
Ms Ebert, who lived to be 1000, won worldwide praise after speaking out about her horrific experience at Auschwitz, where she lost her mother, younger sister, and brother to the gas chambers after arriving at the camp in 1944 when she was 20 years old.
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, as a permanent reminder for our generation – and, indeed, for future generations – of the depths of depravity and evil to which humankind can fall, when reason, compassion and truth are abandoned.
“Alongside other Holocaust survivors, she became an integral part of the fabric of our nation; her extraordinary resilience and courage an example to us all, which will never be forgotten.”
Ms Ebert is said to have passed away peacefully yesterday (9 October). She previously met the king in 2022.
Royal photographer Anwar Hussein dies aged 85
The longest-serving British royal photographer Anwar Hussein has passed away at the age of 85.
Responsible for iconic images like the late Princess Diana sitting in front of the Taj Mahal, his impressive portfolio of work spans over five decades of royal life.
He also photographed Diana’s infamous “revenge dress”, with the pair reported to have struck up a close friendship, that sadly ended with him photographing her funeral in 1996.
Mr Hussein is said to have died from a long illness on 23 September.
Meghan Markle’s best friend makes rare comments about ‘close’ friendship
The Duchess of Sussex’s best friend has paid tribute to her character following a surprise appearance at a hospital charity gala at the weekend.
Kelly Zajfen, who was also in attendance at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles event, paid tribute to the staff at the hospital and then the duchess.
“I was also beyond grateful to share in this beautiful evening with one of my closest friends. Meg, your commitment to supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and community is truly inspiring. I’m so grateful to have you by my side,” Ms Zajfen wrote.
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