Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, made an emotional pilgrimage to Southport on Thursday to comfort the families of the three girls who lost their lives in a knife attack in July.

In her most significant public engagement to date this year, Kate, 42, joined her husband to meet the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

They also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters who were being attacked by a knifeman during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday club. Afterwards, the couple spoke to emergency responders who helped on the day.

The visit marked the princess’s first public engagement since completing chemotherapy treatment and the first time in almost ten months that she has been out and about meeting the public.

Last month Kate Middleton announced a slow and measured return to public life but one that prioritised her ongoing recovery after her cancer diagnosis. William had planned to visit Southport in Merseyside on his own but his wife decided to join him to ‘show her support, empathy and compassion to the local community’.

The visit was kept deliberately low-key and the couple met with the families in private. However, they later walked over to Southport Community Centre where they spoke publicly with emergency responders.

They also chatted with mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long-term support.

Asked how the families of the three girls killed in the attack were doing, Kate Middleton– wearing a brown coat by Alexander McQueen over a burgundy spotted dress – said: ‘All the families are so different. Individually, too, they are managing it and processing this tragic event in very different ways but they’re getting support from families and officers and things like that.’

Phil Garrigan, chief fire officer for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, praised the couple, saying: ‘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.’

The couple posted on social media that the visit had been a ‘powerful’ reminder of the need to support one another ‘in the wake of unimaginable tragedy’.