The King visits Southport

[MrsLeonFarrell]

Very positive reporting on the BBC and he seems to be welcomed by the crowds who have turned out.

The point was made that he has waited until the emergency services had less on their plates before coming.

No real reason for posting!

I think saying he waited to stop the emergency services having more in their plate is a good image.

He's shown support other ways in the interim.

I'm also glad he went. I'm sure the community who have had their grief publicly displayed and the riots related to their town could do with feeling the head of the monarch supports them.

I can take the RF or leave them. But I like when they do good and show compassion.

I think it’s also good that he waited until some of the raw grief has been processed and it doesn’t look like he is just there to jump
on a bandwagon

Yes, doing good and showing compassion the world needs more of that

The report said that he would be meeting survivors, emergency workers, the relatives of those who died and also people who helped clear up the streets after the riots. I think drawing attention to those people, rather than the rioters taking all the headlines is a good thing.

It doesn't have to be the King who does it but he brings press attention with him when he does.

I agree it's a good thing. It must surely be one of the hardest aspects of royal duty, but it's important that people feel someone has noticed and wants to pay their respects. Personally I like KC, and if something awful happened to me I'd appreciate his quiet, earnest approach.

I always think the Aberfan disaster in the 60s must have been beyond anything we can imagine - utterly devastating. I have no idea what you could say to the parents in that case - just appalling.

I was very struck and touched by how beautifully the flowers, toys and balloons left in tribute are being cared for by the people of Southport.

IMO, Charles has gone at the right time. There is always the risk that if it's too early, such a visitor would become an additional problem rather than a comfort. There are many stories of how brilliant and genuinely helpful Lord Snowdon was in the immediate aftermath of Aberfan, but different for the monarch, obviously

One of the strengths of the working royals seems to be that they know they can't fix tragedy with words. They can offer comfort and shine a light on those who have died and those who have helped but they know they can't fix anything and they don't try.

That whole town has had such a difficult time. I agree that timing is so important, the monarch can't be there quickly because they divert resources from those who need them. Later they can be the symbol of the nation, offering comfort and showing people that their loved ones won't be forgotten.

I think the closest I have seen QE II showing she was upset was when she visited victims of the Ariane Grande concert bombings in hospital. It was horrifying. Fgs we have seen girls murdered in this country just for enjoying their favourite singer. I still can't believe what happened in Southport.

It's just awful when these things happen. I prefer the Queen and the King to focus on those they are visiting rather than make it all about their tears. But I bet when they go home they cry and need to have time to process.

Yes, it's the right time to go. I thought he was very measured and it was all dignified. He didn't make it about him or pretend he was some sort of expert. He was just representing the nation, and expressing our condolences.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn876qxq263o
It seems to have been met with very favourably. I'm glad he talked to emergency workers and those who responded.

There's a lovely article in the Guardian too. KC seemed very moved and I think his visit, highlighting all the work by the emergency services and some of the lovely spontaneous actions of the local people, has been perfectly timed. I thought the flowers and toys have all been beautifully arranged and I'm surprised how fresh they all still look, what a tribute to the tragedy of those three little girls.

In the wake of all the riots it's lovely to see everyone who helped highlighted.

So lovely, really glad he went, perfect timing

I think King Charles is doing a great job, and I say this as someone who was very sceptical at the concept of the Royal family.

I think he has relaxed everything a little bit and that is good. The late Queen was a bit stuck in the rigid formality of her early reign.

I think his long apprenticeship is paying off. I've been very impressed by how modest and inclusive he is. No grandiosity.

I think the late Queen got flak for not going to Aberfan early, but I believe she stayed away because she didn't want to be in the way of the people involved in the emergency of it all. She went later.

I remember reading somewhere (ages ago) that the Queen's one regret was that she did not visit Aberfan sooner (she heeded the advice to stay away to avoid putting more stress on the community in the early recovery effort). She was reported to be very upset by the tragedy, visited as soon as advised it was OK (8 days on, and there was criticism at the time for the delay), and she made three more visits over the years.

The late Queen visited Dunblane 4 days after the mass shooting there.

The King clearly waited until the government advised him that the riots were definitely over, and he may have had to wait for suitable timing if he is still on active treatment.

I'm no Royalist but I think Charles seems far more human than his mother was.

Charles looks like he has aged quite a bit recently which is not surprising. It looks like he was enthusiastically received and people enjoyed his visit. He did the right thing.

He looked in good form.

But I think he has lost weight (which can make you look older) as his face has changed a bit and his suit looks a little too large. He's lost that florid look, so maybe that's a sign of improving health.

I don't think it's really possible to tell how someone really is from how they look, most of the time.

But I agree that the King has a way with people that the Queen lacked in public. After her death there were plenty of lovely stories about her interactions with people but they weren't known while she was alive.

To be fair to the Queen while she had a fabulous life meeting basically everyone who was important and famous during her reign, she had almost no opportunity to mix normally with people and experience ordinary life. She grew up with nannies and a governess and played with specially selected friends. She had 1:1 tutorials at Eton. The nearest brush with real life was in the army and I am sure she was treated very deferentially. Charles had the opportunity of more normal interactions with people and William even more so.