COMFORTING FAMILIES OF SOUTHPORT ATTACK THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES IN THEIR FIRST JOINT ENGAGEMENT SINCE 2023 AS THEY UNITE ON EMOTIONAL TRIP

The dazzling smile was back last week as the Princess of Wales brought comfort and compassion in her first public engagement since she finished treatment for cancer.

- EMILY NASH

Kate unexpectedly joined her husband the Prince for an emotional trip to Southport in Merseyside to meet bereaved parents who had lost their daughters in tragic circumstances.

During her surprise appearance at Prince William's side, the couple looked more united than ever as they met the families, as well as emergency workers who rushed to the aid of children who were stabbed at a dance workshop in July.

It was the Princess's most significant appearance since last month's announcement that she had ended her chemotherapy treatment and one the couple had been hoping to make for some time.

Also significant was the fact that Kate chose to make her return to royal duties with a joint engagement alongside William, rather than alone on one of her solo charity projects. It is her most powerful public engagement so far this year.

"This was a big moment for Kate in her recovery journey, but a visit she wouldn't have wanted to miss," says Rhiannon Mills of Sky News, one of the royal correspondents who accompanied the couple on their visit. "There was no sign of the personal challenges she has faced this year," Rhiannon tells HELLO!.

"She was engaged and visibly moved by what she was hearing from the first responders as they bravely shared their experiences.

"With William alongside her, you could see that they had both wanted to travel to Southport to show the community that they hadn't been forgotten." Initially, it was thought that the Prince would travel to Southport on his own, but Kate, who has not yet made a full-time return to public duties following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, decided to go along unannounced.