Princess of Wales attends emotional engagement after announcing she’s finished chemotherapy

Princess Kate has attended her first public engagement since completing chemotherapy, and it was for an emotional reason.

IN LONDON

The Princess of Wales has undertaken her first engagement since completing chemotherapy, making a surprise appearance alongside Prince William to meet the families of three children tragically killed in a knife attack.

The emotional outing saw Catherine and William speak with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, who were all murdered while at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Stockport, in England’s north-west, in July.

The royal couple also met with emergency responders who fought to save the young girls and others who were injured in the horrific attack.

Axel Muganwa Rudakubana, 17, has been charged with three murders and 10 counts of attempted murder, and awaits trial.

Kate joined William in Southport. Picture: Danny Lawson/Pool/AFP

It was their first official joint engagement in months. Picture: Danny Lawson/Pool/AFP

William and Kate also spoke with a dance teacher who was present when the attack happened as well as fire, ambulance, air ambulance and police services at the Southport Community Centre, who opened up about their experience and the impact it had had on their mental health.

The Wales’ visit comes after King Charles broke off his summer holiday to visit Stockport and express his condolences in August.

That same month, Taylor Swift also met some of the survivors of the attack, inviting them to her Eras Tour at Wembley.

Kate and William spoke with first responders as well as families of the three children who lost their lives. Picture: Danny Lawson/Pool/AFP

It’s understood William was initially supposed to attend Thursday’s engagement alone, but Kate had opted to join him at the last minute.

In her announcement that she had finished chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, Kate spoke of her “relief”, but added: “My path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes”.

Kate revealed her diagnosis in March. Picture: Danny Lawson/Pool/AFP

The slick, stunning video statement, released by Kensington Palace last month but filmed weeks earlier at her home in Norfolk, Kate spoke about the “scary” and “incredibly tough” nine months her family had endured.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said in a voice-over, as clips of herself and William, spending time with their three children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six – were shown.

“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”

Meanwhile, during an engagement in Wales the day after the video statement was released, William told wellwishers that the end of his wife’s chemotherapy was “good news” but admitted that “there is still a long way to go.”.

It echoed Kate’s hopeful but cautious tone in her statement, as she explained that she was now focusing on doing what she can “to stay cancer-free”.

“I am however looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”

Originally published as Princess of Wales attends emotional engagement after announcing she’s finished chemotherapy