The Princess of Wales has proved her fashion prowess is as impressive as ever as she returns to the spotlight following several months out of action due to cancer treatment – and she even influenced her husband’s outfit too.
Mother-of-three Kate, 42, stunned as she arrived in Southport this afternoon to meet families who were affected by the horrific stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in July.
In her most significant engagement to date this year, Kate, 42, joined Prince William to meet with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.
Arriving in Southport as the autumn afternoon sun shone, the Princess, who has undergone several months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, looked beautiful in a berry ensemble. William, in a nod to his wife, also donned a berry jumper.
The royal donned a Whistles Margot polka dot dress from the high street store’s 2018 collection, costing £159 at the time, and appeared to have added a pussybow detail to the collar.
+13
The Princess of Wales, 42, proved her style prowess is as strong as ever as she arrived in Southport this afternoon with Prince William
Kate and Wills wear matching outfits visiting Southport
She layered the frock with a structured pea coat from her favourite designer Alexander McQueen. Kate accessorised with her Gold Fern Drop Earrings from Catherine Zoraida, costing £165.
Kate previously donned her structured pea coat to the Earthshot Awards in Boston, when she travelled to the US in December 2022 to support Prince William.
Afterwards the couple spoke to emergency responders who attended and helped on the day.
Prince William had promised the families and local community he would visit as soon as possible and his visit has long been scheduled in for today.
+13
A smile that will warm the hearts of royal fans: The Princess of Wales beamed as she sat down in Southport
+13
The royal pair also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters (Prince William and Princess Kate are pictured on Thursday)
Prince William and Kate meet families of Southport knife attack
+13
The Princess of Wales looked picture perfect as she carried out her most poignant and significant engagement of this year
+13
Kate wore her luscious locks in loose waves with golden highlights, which she swept away from her face
Prince and Princess of Wales visit Southport community centre
+13
The Princess of Wales met the families of the three girls killed in July’s Southport knife attack during an emotional visit to the town with her husband, Prince William (both pictured today)
+13
Three girls were killed at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class, including Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven (pictured)
+13
Bebe King, six, was also killed in the horror attack in Southport in July
+13
Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning after being rushed to hospital after being stabbed while at the dance party
But the decision by his wife to join him was more recent. It is understood that she wanted to ‘show her support, empathy and compassion to the local community’.
At the time of the incident the couple shared a personal message of shock and sympathy for those affected and, like her husband, the princess has kept a keen eye on events since.
It is ids the first public engagement for the princess since she announced last month that she had complete treatment for cancer and would undertake a carefully calibrated return to public duties.
Apart from a small media contingency, the visit was kept deliberately low key as both the prince and princess wanted it to remain as discreet as possible out of respect to those involved.
Their meeting with the victims’ families was held in completely in private and not announced publicly until they had left.
However, the couple then went onto meet with emergency responders who were involved in the aftermath of the attack at a local community centre to hear about their experiences and speak to mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long term support to the blue light community in Southport.
It is understood that it was important to them to go now, three months later, to show the people of Southport that they have not been forgotten and they’ll continue to stand by the community today and in the future.
William and Catherine’s Royal Foundation made a donation to the the National Police and Wellbeing Service’s fundraiser to help fast track psychological and physical rehabilitation for police and ambulance personnel who were involved in the attack and the subsequent riots.
Last month the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed a course of preventative chemotherapy after it emerged earlier this year that evidence of cancer had been found following abdominal surgery.
+13
The trip was the first public engagement since Catherine announced she had completed her chemotherapy treatment (Kate and William are pictured in Southport today)
Kensington Palace said she would embark on a slow and measured return to public duties, bearing in mind her continued recovery.
Although she had held meetings in private and photographs of her hugging cancer patient Liz Hatton were released last week, today’s event is her first official public engagement since then.
She also hopes to join her family on Remembrance Sunday.
In August, King Charles paid tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing during an emotional visit to the town.
The monarch was greeted with cheers and applause as he viewed a floral display honouring the youngsters killed in the horror knife attack.
He also met with survivors of the rampage.
