Royal visit to Southport opens memorial playground and meets families

The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Southport on Tuesday to meet bereaved families, school staff and emergency responders as the seaside town continues to recover more than a year after a teenage knife attack killed three young girls at a holiday dance class. William and Catherine visited two schools, took part in the opening of a memorial playground and held private meetings with the families of the victims in a visit kept deliberately low key out of respect for those affected.

The couple began at Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where they spoke with teachers, pupils and the family of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven. They then visited Churchtown Primary School, which two of the victims attended, and were shown a new playground raised in memory of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and Bebe King, six. The playground, which includes a climbing gym, bike track, indoor and outdoor libraries, a stage and areas for quiet reflection, was funded by a public appeal that raised about 338,000 pounds, officials said. Surplus funds have been shared among foundations set up in memory of the three girls, school leaders said.

Speaking at the school, Prince William praised the...