Kate Middleton has broken her recent silence along with Prince William to share a heartfelt message in the wake of the tragic Sydney shopping centre attack.
The public have not heard from Kate since she confirmed she had cancer in a video on 22 March.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expressed their deep sorrow following the appalling incident at Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction.
The Royal couple took to their official social media channels on Saturday afternoon to respond to the shocking events that unfolded, where a knife-wielding assailant caused the death of six individuals and left several others, including an infant, severely wounded
The attacker was fatally shot by a police officer after being pursued into the mall and failing to comply with orders to drop his weapon. In the aftermath, New South Wales Police established a critical incident, resulting in the closure of the shopping centre.
The news has generated an outpouring of sympathy, with William and Kate extending their condolences through a poignant statement.
They acknowledged the gravity of the situation and honoured the bravery of the first responders in their note.
Sharing their thoughts via the Kensington Royal handle, the pair wrote: “We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including the loved ones of those lost and the heroic emergency responders who risked their own lives to save others. W and C,” reports the Mirror.
Last month, Kate’s emotional video saw the mum-of-three admit it had been “an incredibly tough couple of months”.
She said: “I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
Crowds flee Sydney shopping mall after reports of multiple stabbings and possible shooting spark major police response. An eyewitnesses told the ABC shots were fired.
Australian media said four people had died and more had been injured by a man stabbing people at the Westfield Bondi Junction centre in Sydney. New South Wales Police said in a statement: “A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of a male at Bondi Junction.
“Just before 4pm, emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction following reports of multiple people stabbed.”
News website news.com.au reported witnesses claiming a man began stabbing shoppers at random before being shot by police. The Australian website reported that a nine-month-old baby was among those who were stabbed.
New South Wales Police said emergency services were called to Westfield Bondi Junction just before 4pm after reports of multiple people being stabbed. “A critical incident has commenced following the shooting of male at Bondi Junction,” police said in a statement.
It said an operation was underway with shoppers being evacuated. A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said there were two alleged offenders. It said one has been shot by police and they were hunting the other.
Aerial footage from outside the complex shows a large number of emergency vehicles and personnel.
Armed police could also be seen conducting a search on the roof where the car park is located. According to the ambulance spokesperson, a number of people remain trapped inside the shopping centre.
