Prince William lauds 'bravery' of Southport survivor at garden party

Prince William told a Southport survivor, "you're so brave" during the Buckingham Palace garden party this afternoon.

A yoga teacher who survived the devastating attack shared the emotional reunion with the Prince of Wales on Friday.

Leanne Lucas, who has become a prominent campaigner against knife crime, discussed her Let's Be Blunt initiative with William during the royal gathering.

Ms Lucas described the encounter warmly, saying: "I met William and Kate when they last came to Southport, so I'm a surviving teacher of the Southport attack 2024, so really it was like meeting an old friend again, because we had such personal conversations last time we met."

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The Prince and Princess of Wales hosted this afternoon's event on behalf of the King.

The Let's Be Blunt campaign seeks to persuade knife manufacturers and consumers to abandon pointed-tip kitchen knives, which Ms Lucas argues can become lethal weapons when misused.

Her advocacy work began following the horrific attack in Merseyside in July 2024, which claimed the lives of three young girls: Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, Bebe King, aged six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine.

Eight children and two adults were also injured in the tragedy.

Ms Lucas said the prince was "really keen" to learn about her campaign efforts.

She added: "Today is just magical, it's a once in a lifetime experience, so I'm really honoured to even be invited let alone get to see them again."

Beyond discussing her campaigning efforts, William also enquired about Ms Lucas's personal welfare.

She explained: "William wants to check that I'm also keeping an eye on my wellbeing as well as all the knife crime campaigning we're doing."

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The Princess of Wales, dressed in a Self Portrait dress paired with a vintage hat, also shared a heartwarming exchange with the Southport survivor.

Ms Lucas recalled their conversation: "Last time I met her I was quite down, we met them while the inquiry was going on, so she just said she is so happy to see me full of energy and passion and enthusiasm again and she's like 'it's so nice to see you back to the way that you should be and the way that you were before everything terrible happened', so it was nice."

The garden party also brought together other guests with personal connections to the royal family's charitable work.

Rhian Mannings, who previously shared a moving televised conversation with Prince William about her husband's suicide, spoke with him once more at Friday's gathering.

Her one-year-old son George passed away following a seizure in 2012, and her husband Paul took his own life just five days afterwards.

She described the prince as "always so supportive" and noted their October meeting at her home to discuss mental health and bereavement support.

Maria Butler from Buckinghamshire presented the Princess of Wales with "Never Alone Buddies" crafted by a socially prescribed knitting group.

Zara Tindall and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were also present at the royal occasion.

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