King Charles holds private Clarence House meeting with the families of three young girls who were killed in Southport stabbing
The King has met with the families of three young girls killed in the horror knife attack in Southport last month.
Charles held a private audience this morning at Clarence House with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar.
It comes after he expressed his profound 'shock' at the killings while visiting Southport on Tuesday
Bebe, Elsie and Alice were killed after a knifeman burst into a Taylor-Swift themed dance class and began stabbing attendees on July 29.
The 17-year-old suspect was arrested soon after as ten others were left injured.
The knifeman Axel Rudakubana remains in custody charged with three counts of murder and ten of attempted murder.
The King travelled from Scotland to Southport to meet with affected children and their families.
King Charles appeared moved by the huge number of floral tributes left in Southport
It comes after a fatal stabbing attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance class which left three children dead, including Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven
Bebe King, six, was also killed in the horror attack in Southport last month
Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning after being rushed to hospital following the attack
King Charles signs a book of condolence during his visit to Southport Town Hall following the horror attack
Visiting Southport yesterday, Charles spoke of his heartfelt appreciation of the way in which the local community rallied around its own as he met with emergency services personnel, faith leaders and some of those who opened their doors in acts of kindness.
Among them were Diane, 50, and her husband Dan, 48, whose home backs onto the Hart Community Centre, where the violence occurred.
The King suspended his traditional Balmoral break to hold a private meeting with some of the injured young children and their families and also looked at floral tributes left to the three victims.
Patrick Hurley, MP for Sefton, which includes Southport, met the King with other local leaders at a fire station, and said afterwards: 'He was very keen to express his sympathy and empathy. Very keen to make sure the people of Southport know that from the symbolism perspective, the country's heart goes out to the people here.'
Diane and Dan comforted the families of some of those who tragically lost their lives or were injured on the day, and have continued allow police to use their facilities as investigations continued.
The couple are unable to speak in detail about events of the day due to the ongoing police enquiries.
But Diane said: 'I came straight home from work and we have been within the police cordon for the last three weeks. The barriers have just gone up yesterday.
'It's a bit surreal. It's as if everything is going to back to normal but for us it will be quite a thing to get over.
'It was a surreal conversation with the king because we've opened our doors to the six or eight police officers who were manning the cordon each day.
'We have opened our front door all day for them to use our facilities. They get tea and coffee and food but nowhere to go to the toilet. At night we leave our back door open for them to use the toilet too. The king laughed and I said 'well everyone's got to go!'
'The King said he was shocked, really shocked at what happened, and said it was kind of us to open our house. We said it was the right thing to do.
'You don't imagine it happening in our own town, let along at the end of your backyard. 'My husband and daughter were there and I rushed back from work to see a couple of people still being treated before being put in ambulances and taken away.
'We were able to be there even in a small way for one of the deceased parents. We were able to support them. I just said to them if you want to come and sit in the quiet. I won't repeat what happened or what was said but as a parent your heart goes out to them. It's heartbreaking.
'We are Christians and I've prayed for the families of the deceased but I've also prayed for his parents [the accused] as effectively they have lost a son. Imagine being the parent of the children who done it?
'The King said it was a very kind thing for us to do and was shocked at what had happened.
'We think a lot of the royal family. His visit shows that they have a compassionate heart and the fact that Charles, Camilla and William and Kate all put out statements after it happened was touching.
'He's very easy to talk to, I was surprised. I think [criticism of him not coming down earlier] is undeserved. This was the right time. '
King Charles stopped to shake the hands of some members of the public during his trip to Southport
Charles, 75, is still undergoing cancer treatment
The huge display has been left in the wake of the tragic killings of three girls who were stabbed during a Taylor Swift-themed summer party in the town last month
King Charles is pictured in the background of the floral display, which also includes a number of balloons and cuddly toys
King Charles appeared moved when he saw the scale of the tributes left for those killed in the attack
The event took part at the community fire station in Southport where His Majesty was met by regional leaders including the mayors of Liverpool City Region and Sefton.
The King met with staff from each of the three emergency services, the fire brigade, ambulance and police.
'Were you there? He asked several of them, adding: 'I hope you are not too exhausted. Were your teams there on the night? When you do finally get off duty? It's all my fault, I am sure.'
Charles shook hands with a young girl in Southport and greeted her as he arrived in the town
Hundreds of people, including children on their summer holidays, turned out to greet the King
Residents young and old came together to thank Charles for visiting the town just weeks after the fatal tragedy
King Charles is pictured inspecting some of the floral tributes in Southport
A tribute to those killed in the Southport attacks
King Charles met with the grieving families of the three dead girls at Buckingham Palace.
The King is expected to return to Balmoral.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, from Banks, Lancashire, will stand trial next year after being charged with three counts of murder and ten counts of attempted murder.
'Our beloved Bebe, only six years old, was full of joy, light, and love, and she will always remain in our hearts as the sweet, kind, and spirited girl we adore,' the family said in a statement
Members of the community arrive ahead of a vigil to remember the victims
'Bebe was such a sweet, happy little thing. Loving life, in particular music and theatre, and enjoying the deep affection in which she was held by her family and friends,' Mr Weston King wrote (pictured: Bebe with her aunt)
Bebe King's grandfather, Michael Weston King, 62, (pictured with Bebe) released a touching tribute to his granddaughter
A vigil was held for the victims as the community gathered to support the grieving family
Artist's impression of Axel Rudakubana covering his face in Liverpool Crown Court
Court artist drawing of Rudakubana covering his face as he appeared in the dock
The 17-year-old is charged with murdering three little girls and harming 10 others with a curved kitchen knife
The teenager accused of stabbing to death three little girls once appeared in a Children in Need promotional video for the BBC
Teacher Leanne Lucas, who bravely helped protect children in the Southport attack, has been readmitted to hospital
Leanne Lucas, who organised the Taylor Swift-themed holiday club and suffered stab injuries, had life-saving surgery 
A horse-drawn carriage carrying the coffin of nine-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar
A horse and carriage carrying the coffin of nine-year-old Alice
Alice Da Silva Aguiar's coffin was decorated with pink roses for her funeral
Alice da Silva Aguiar pictured on the day she died next to a cardboard cut out of Taylor Swift - she was eager and ready to get into the dance class
Alice da Silva Aguiar had been dancing and performing from a young age
Alice had been dancing from a young age, she is pictured here in her ballet outfit
Another image released by the family shows Alice as a toddler during one of her first ballet classes, to which she wore a pink tutu and ballet shoes
Hundreds of mourners came out to honour Alice da Silva
Alice's parents said in a tribute: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do, our princess'
Little Alice pictured here in her school uniform, she was killed in Southport alongside Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven
Alice pictured with her Wednesday Addams hat on at Halloween
A mother hugs her child as they look at floral tributes for the victims of the deadly knife attack in Southport
Floral tributes on the junction of Tithebarn Road and Hart Street in Southport, near the scene where the children were killed
Teddy bears sit alongside the crowds of flowers as they unite to mourn the tragedy
Residents look at floral tributes for the victims of a deadly knife attack in Southport
A tribute to 'the lost angels' sits alongside a fluffy teddy bear in a heartbreaking message for the little children
People look on at floral tributes and balloons laid in the memory of the three girls in Southport
Parents and children gather to pay their respects during a vigil for the victims of a stabbing attack
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