The Prince and Princess of Wales have been filmed sharing a sweet moment together during their visit to Southport on Tuesday.

In a video uploaded online, Kate and William were seen taking a brief moment to share a gentle conversation after the future King delivered a speech to commemorate a new playground dedicated to the memory of the tragic stabbing victims.

Earlier that day, the royal pair held private, heartfelt discussions with the grieving parents of the three girls who were brutally killed in the Southport attack: Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe.

The Prince and Princess first visited seven-year-old Elsie’s school, Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, and then made their way to Churchtown Primary School, where Alice, nine, and six-year-old Bebe had been students.

At their last location, William gave a brief speech during the opening of an inspiring new playground at the school, created to honor the memories of the three girls.

Following his speech, during which he appeared deeply touched while commending how ‘classmates have united to support each other and remember the girls in their own unique way,’ the heir to the throne seemed to enjoy a tender moment with his proud wife.

Kate leaned into William as she and the audience applauded his remarks, offering him a loving smile, which he reciprocated while responding to his wife.

Royal fans, who shared the footage online, said they ‘loved the way they looked at each other’, while another referred to them as ‘true soulmates’ after watching the sweet scene. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales have been filmed sharing a sweet moment together during their visit to Southport on Tuesday (pictured)

‘They look so good together. Prince William chose his Queen well,’ added a third person, while a fourth wrote in the comments on Instagram: ‘They are adorable.’

On Tuesday, the royal couple made an emotional return to Southport to offer their ongoing support for families affected by the tragic murders, after first visiting the area in October 2024.

Axel Rudakubana, 19, attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on June 29, 2024, where he killed Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, and injured eight other children.

In a speech to pupils of Churchtown Primary School, the Prince urged the classmates of Elsie, Bebe and Alice to honour their memories and ‘be brave, be joyful and be kind’.

Speaking in the surroundings of an inspirational new playground built at the school, William said: ‘The tragic events that unfolded in this town last year still remain difficult to comprehend.

‘Last year, Alex and Sergio, [Alice’s parents] you told us you wanted to create a special playground in memory of the girls and here we are.

‘This playground is a symbol of how the community have come together to create such a positive space for the pupils of this school – a symbol of remembrance and resilience, a testament that love will always overcome tragedy.

‘Many lives were changed on that terrible day – including countless members of this school community.

In footage shared online, Kate and William (pictured) appeared to take a moment to softly chat between themselves after the future King delivered a short speech to mark a new playground created in honour of the tragic stabbing victims

Reaction: Royal fans, who shared the footage online, said they ‘loved the way they looked at each other’, while another referred to them as ‘true soulmates’ after watching the sweet scene

The Prince and Princess of Wales visit Churchtown Primary School, in continued support of the Southport community 

‘To the teaching community here at Churchtown Primary and Farnborough Road, where we visited this morning – each and every one of you has gone above and beyond to help heal this incredible group of young people. Thank you.

‘To Alex and Sergio, Lauren and Ben, Jenni and David – you are parents united in grief. You have faced such horror – but from that you move forward with grace and fortitude – creating the most remarkable legacies for your girls. We will always be here to support you.

‘To everyone impacted on that day you will never be forgotten.’

After arriving at Churchtown Primary School, Kate, dressed in a smart pink blouse and stylish grey trousers, and William toured the inspirational new commemorative playground that has been created in Alice and Bebe’s honour.

The school and the community of Southport have been on a journey of grief since the attack and are now focused on looking ahead in a hopeful and positive way, sources said.

As a result, the school set up a fundraising appeal for a memorial playground to honour Alice and Bebe.

Surplus funds have been distributed between local charities who have helped recovery efforts in Southport, as well as being split between three charities founded in memory of Alice, Bebe and Elsie – Alice’s WonderDance Foundation, Bebe’s Hive and Elsie’s Story. 

Fundraising efforts included Alice and Elsie’s fathers, as well as the school’s headteacher Jinnie Payne, running in the London Marathon. Their Royal Highness privately donated to this appeal.

The Princess of Wales meets children from Farnborough Road Infant and Junior School, where Elsie Dot Stancombe was a pupil

Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess sat down for an emotional conversation with the parents of Alice and Bebe. 

During their discussion, Bebe’s mother Lauren King gifted Kate and Prince William friendship bracelets she’d made, which featured her little girl’s name. Both the Prince and Princess were photographed wearing them.

The royal couple’s visit to Alice and Bebe’s school came after they spent around 20 minutes in an ’emotional’ private meeting with the grieving parents of Elsie during a visit to her school.

In January, Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 52 years for carrying out the Southport attacks with a judge admitting he will likely remain in prison until he dies.

Rudakubana was handed 13 sentences including the murders of Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and the attempted murder of eight other children in Southport.

Mr Justice Goose passed his sentence on a day of high drama and emotion as the teenager was twice removed from the dock for interrupting proceedings.