On Tuesday, King Charles III visited Southport, a town in northwest England shaken by a tragic knife attack that claimed the lives of three young girls and ignited widespread anti-immigration riots. The 75-year-old monarch came to pay his respects, view the sea of floral tributes to the victims, and meet with children who survived the attack.
Charles’s visit follows criticism from some quarters, including historian Kate Williams, for his delayed public response to the riots. Although the king expressed condolences to the families of the victims shortly after the attack, he refrained from commenting on the riots until nearly two weeks later.
Typically, the monarch avoids making statements on politically charged issues. However, in discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and police officials, Charles expressed encouragement at the strong, compassionate response from the community that countered the violence and aggression.
During his visit, King Charles waved to residents as he walked through the town center. His itinerary included meetings with regional leaders, emergency service representatives, local groups, and faith leaders affected by the turmoil. He was also set to meet privately with survivors and families of those impacted by the attack.
The July 29 incident, which occurred during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, left three girls—aged six, seven, and nine—dead and ten others injured. The alleged attacker, 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, faces charges of murder and attempted murder. Despite rumors, police have clarified that the attack is not being investigated as terrorism-related.
In the wake of the tragedy, riots erupted across more than a dozen English towns and cities, with far-right elements allegedly fueling the unrest. The riots targeted mosques, hotels housing asylum seekers, and various properties. Misinformation about Rudakubana’s background, which falsely claimed he was a Muslim asylum seeker, contributed to the violence. In reality, Rudakubana was born in Britain to Rwandan parents.
Initially, King Charles and Queen Camilla sent their condolences but did not publicly address the ongoing riots. The king has since praised British police and emergency services for their efforts to restore peace and expressed hope that shared values of respect and understanding would help unite the nation.
The riots have led to over a thousand arrests and numerous convictions, with Prime Minister Starmer pledging swift justice for those involved.
