Inside Kate Middleton’s Emotional Meeting with Families of Young Girls Killed at Taylor Swift-Themed Dance Class

Kate Middleton’s first public engagement after completing chemotherapy treatment included emotional meetings with the families of the children killed in a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class over the summer.

On Oct. 10, Princess Kate and Prince William stepped out in Southport, England to show support for the community in the wake of the deadly attack on July 29 in which three children were killed and 10 others, including eight children, were injured. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ poignant visit included private meetings with the families of the three young girls who died, as well as the dance teacher who witnessed the attack. 

Prince William and Princess Kate, both 42, spent 30 minutes with each of the young victims’ families, according to Rebecca English of the Daily Mail, followed by a long meeting with some of the first responders who acted that day.

PEOPLE understands that the Prince and Princess of Wales wanted to visit Southport to show the community they are not forgotten and that they will continue to stand by them.  

“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,” William and Kate wrote on X on Oct. 10, sharing a photo of them meeting members of the emergency services.

The post was personally signed “W & C,” shorthand for their first initials, indicating that the message came directly from them.

The royal couple are parents to three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 — and Prince William brought his elder two children to a Taylor Swift concert in London on June 21, his 42nd birthday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales issued a statement of sympathy after the stabbings, which referenced their perspective as parents. 

“As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through. We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack,” said the message on July 29.

“Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most,” it continued. It was signed “W & C.”

The royals visited Southport on Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day. Mental health is a key focus of the Royal Foundation, the couple’s shared charitable organization. Prince William is a retired RAF search and rescue pilot who further served with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and the mental health of emergency responders is a cause close to his heart.

As seen in video shared to X by Matt Wilkinson of The Sun, Princess Kate said, “Support in general has really improved for first responders across the board, but there are still gaps.”

The Sun reported that Princess Kate gave hugs to first responders as they recounted their experiences responding to the Southport stabbings, and Prince William urged the “heroes” to take the time they needed to heal.

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“The first thing we thought about was actually how on earth you guys are going to handle having seen what you’ve seen,” said the heir to the throne. “So please take your time, don’t rush back to work, do whatever you need to, talk about it, give your superiors a hard time if they are not letting you have that time to decompress, because it’s so important you have those moments.”

“You’re all heroes. Please make sure you look after yourselves, please take your time, don’t rush back to work… you are all true professionals,” Prince William said.

According to The Sun, Phil Garrigan, Merseyside chief fire officer, said, “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 touching for them,” Garrigan added.

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ Royal Foundation supported the fundraiser established by the National Police and Wellbeing Service for those involved in the immediate response to the Southport stabbings.