During a poignant return to Southport, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a quiet but powerful gesture that resonated deeply with grieving families and the wider community.

On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, William and Catherine arrived in the town still scarred by the horrific tragedy that claimed three young lives just last year. Throughout the day, the couple wore identical bracelets inscribed with “Bebe’s Hive” — a grief support project created in memory of six-year-old Bebe King.

Remembering a Community’s Loss

The Southport community has struggled to heal since July 29, 2024, when three girls — Bebe King, nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe — were brutally stabbed during a Taylor Swift–themed dance class at The Hart Space community center. Ten others, including eight children, were also injured in the attack.

The killer, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of murder and attempted murder, as well as terrorism-related offenses. In January 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 52 years.