Prince William and Princess Kate meet with families of the recent tragedy

The Princess of Wales has made an unexpected appearance alongside the Prince of Wales on a visit to Southport, where they held a private meeting with the bereaved families of three children killed in a knife attack in July.

This was Catherine's first official public engagement since she finished her chemotherapy treatment.

Royal sources say she decided to join Prince William to show her "support, empathy and compassion to the local community".

The couple spoke to emergency responders who helped at the scene of the devastating knife attack