Royals British Royal Family British Royal Family News Kate Middleton and Prince William Share Personal Message 'as Parents' Following Stabbing Deaths of 2 Children The Prince and Princess of Wales said in a personal message, "We cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through" By Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit Stephanie Petit is a Royals Editor, Writer and Reporter at PEOPLE. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 29, 2024 04:43PM EDT Prince William and Kate Middleton in the Bahamas on March 26, 2022. Photo: Samir Hussein - Pool/WireImage Kate Middleton and Prince William are sending their "love, thoughts and prayers" to those involved in a deadly stabbing attack in the U.K. that left two children dead. The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 42, penned a personal message that was shared on their social media pages on July 29 after two children died and several others remain hospitalized in critical condition following a stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport, England. "As parents, we cannot begin to imagine what the families, friends and loved ones of those killed and injured in Southport today are going through," Prince William and Princess Kate wrote. "We send our love, thoughts and prayers to all those involved in this horrid and heinous attack." They added, "Thank you also to the emergency responders who, despite being met with the most horrific scenes, demonstrated compassion and professionalism when your community needed you most." The note was signed with the initials "W & C," standing for William and Catherine. The couple uses the shorthand to indicate that a message came directly from them rather than their communications team. Kate Middleton Supports a New Venture Related to Royal Work — That She's Already Introduced Her Kids To! Prince William and Princess Kate are parents to three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. Prince William recently brought their two eldest children to a Swift concert in London on June 21, where they posed for a selfie with the pop star and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. King Charles also released a statement following the Southport attack saying he and Queen Camilla are "profoundly shocked to hear of the utterly horrific incident." "We send our most heartfelt condolences, prayers and deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have so tragically lost their lives, and to all those affected by this truly appalling attack," he said. Police confirmed that a 17-year-old originally from Cardiff was arrested in connection with the stabbing. Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said at a press conference that he was taken into custody on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Kennedy confirmed that the children were attending the event at a dance school when the suspect, armed with a knife, walked into the location and attacked the group. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! BBC News, The Telegraph, and the Daily Express reported the incident occurred near a Swift-themed yoga and dance class, and The Telegraph reported that the class was advertised for children between 6 and 11. "We believe that the adults who were injured were bravely trying to protect the children who were being attacked," Kennedy said.