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.
A Gesture of Unity and Compassion
William and Catherine received their bracelets during an emotional private meeting with families and staff at Churchtown Primary School, where both Bebe and Alice had once been pupils. Bebe’s mother, Lauren King, who founded Bebe’s Hive, later said: “It meant everything. It was really special.”
The couple kept the bracelets on throughout their engagements, including the opening of a new playground built on school grounds in honor of Bebe and Alice. The space was envisioned as a joyful refuge, a symbol of resilience and remembrance. At Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie had been a student, the royals also met privately with her parents.
Healing Through Legacy
Lauren King’s grief project, Bebe’s Hive, describes itself as a creative, grief-informed space for children and families, offering art, music, storytelling, and play to process loss. “Born from loss. Rooted in love. Guided by Bebe,” its mission statement reads.
This visit was William and Catherine’s second to Southport since the tragedy. Their first, in October 2024, came just weeks after the attack and was marked by another display of unity, when the couple appeared in matching burgundy outfits.
This time, their matching bracelets spoke louder than words — a reminder that even in the aftermath of devastating violence, compassion and remembrance can offer a path toward healing.