On Tuesday, King Charles III paid a visit to the village in northwest England where a terrible knife assault killed three young girls, sparking widespread anti-immigrant rioting.
The 75-year-old king observed a massive wave of floral tributes to the victims before meeting children who survived the incident in the beach town of Southport.
Buckingham Palace stated that he wished to praise “frontline emergency staff for their ongoing work serving local people”.
Some, notably historian Kate Williams, have previously criticized Charles for failing to issue a public statement in response to the disturbances.
Although the monarch expressed condolences to the families of the three girls killed, he did not address the turmoil until nearly two weeks later.
Traditionally, the monarch does not engage on issues that could spark political debate.
However, in later meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and police officials, the king stated that he was “greatly encouraged” by the response, which “countered the aggression and criminality of a few with the compassion and resilience of the many.”
The monarch was seen waving to locals as he strolled through the town centre.
He was scheduled to meet with area officials, emergency service personnel, and other individuals.
They will include local organizations and church leaders affected by the violent unrest that struck Southport the day after the July 29 mass stabbing.
Charles was also scheduled to meet privately with some of individuals involved in the knife attack, which killed three young girls (ages six, seven, and nine) and injured ten others, eight of whom were also youngsters.
Some of the surviving children and their families were expected to attend the gathering, which was held at the community centre.
The children were at a Taylor Swift-themed dance lesson when an intruder entered the building and started attacking them.
Axel Rudakubana, who was 17 at the time, has been charged with murder and attempted murder for the stabbing spree.
‘Shared values’
A reason for the tragedy has not been revealed, although authorities have stated that it is not being investigated as terrorism-related.
Over a dozen English towns and cities experienced disturbances and riots in the week following the events in Southport.
Officials blamed far-right elements for inciting the violence, which attacked mosques, hotels sheltering asylum seekers, police personnel, and other properties.
The authorities blamed the assault on falsehoods published online that Rudakubana was a Muslim asylum seeker.
He was born in Britain to parents who came from Rwanda, a predominantly Christian country.
In the immediate wake of the July 29 tragedy, Charles and Queen Camilla expressed their condolences to the families of three girls killed, but did not remark on the near-daily rioting that ensued for some time.
The king eventually thanked British police and emergency services for “their efforts to restore peace in areas affected by violent disorder.”
According to a Buckingham Palace official, he hoped that the “shared values of mutual respect and understanding will continue to strengthen and unite the nation”.
It was also alleged that he was given daily briefings on the national situation when the unrest was at its peak.
More than a thousand people have been arrested and hundreds have been convicted as a result of the riots, which began after Prime Minister Starmer promised that those who took part would be held accountable.