Royals pay tribute to Sydney victims: Charles and Camilla are 'shocked and horrified' by stabbings and Kate and William send thoughts to families in princess's first public statement since cancer news

The royals have paid tribute to victims of the horrific knife attack in Sydney today with King Charles III and Queen Camilla saying they are 'shocked and horrified' by the incident, while Kate and William sent thoughts to the families of those involved.

In a statement this afternoon, the King said: 'My wife and I were utterly shocked and horrified to hear of the tragic stabbing incident in Bondi.

'Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have been so brutally killed during such a senseless attack.

'While details of these shocking circumstances are still emerging, our thoughts are also with those who were involved in the response, and we give thanks for the bravery of the first responders and emergency services.'

The King signed off his message: 'Charles R.' 

The Prince and Princess of Wales echoed the King's sentiments in what was Kate's first public statement since telling the world she has cancer.

The Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured at Horse Guards Parade in November 2023) have sent an emotional message to Sydney attack victims in what is Kate's first public statement since telling the world she has cancer 

Posting on their official X account, the couple said: 'We are shocked and saddened by the terrible events in Sydney earlier today'

The royal couple's statement sees Princess Kate (pictured with William in Vancouver in 2016) break her silence for the first time since she revealed in March that she was undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy after a period of absence from public life 

The Princess of Wales announced her shock cancer diagnosis in a video in a video message

King Charles III also made a statement following the horrific attack in Australia

King Charles III was seen waving to royal fans as he left Clarence House in London on Wednesday

Posting on their official X account, the couple said: '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.'

The pair signed off the statement with 'W & C'.

Six people were killed and three more stabbed during the horrific attack in Sydney that left multiple people critically injured including a mother and her baby on the start of the Australian school holidays. 

Four women and one man died at the scene and another woman died in hospital.

Other victims critically injured in the attack at Bondi Junction Westfield mall at around 3.30pm local time included a mother and her nine-month-old baby. 

The attacker was in the mall at 3pm but left and returned at 3.20pm with a knife.

He attacked the mother and child at 3.30pm before police arrived at 3.45pm and the mall was placed under lockdown at 4pm.

The baby is undergoing surgery in hospital. The motive was not immediately clear and police have not ruled out terrorism. 

The knifeman who killed five women and one man during a rampage in Sydney today was 'known to police' 

The knifeman was reportedly shot dead by a female police officer

The attacker was seen running in the mall with a knife in his hand

The attacker was in the mall at 3pm but left and returned at 3.20pm with a knife. He attacked the mother and child at 3.30pm before police arrived at 3.45pm and the mall was placed under lockdown at 4pm

Shoppers run though Bondi Junction as police lock down the centre following reports of a major incident

The stabbing happened at Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre, which went into lockdown just before 4pm on Saturday

Multiple other shoppers have been injured in the attack, it has been reported

Paramedics have taken people to hospital in ambulances, while bystanders have seen multiple people outside the shopping centre with blood on their clothes

Police have cordoned off the shopping centre in Sydney

The royal couple's statement sees Princess Kate break her silence for the first time since she revealed in March that she was undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy after a period of absence from public life. 

The family have kept a low profile in recent weeks while the Princess of Wales takes time to recover and on Wednesday Prince William spoke for the first time since the shock news.

The royal took to Instagram to thank England Lionesses hero Rachel Daly for her service to the national team.

In a pithy statement shared on the Instagram account ran by the Prince and Princess of Wales, he said: 'Thank you for so many unforgettable performances with Lionesses, Rachel Daly'.

'Plenty more goals for Villa now,' he quipped, with Daly now focused exclusively on her role as Aston Villa number 9.

Prince William, who has not been seen publicly since his wife's announcement, is not expected to pick back up his public duties until his children return to school after the holidays.

In an emotional video message at the end of March announcing the news, the Princess said it had been an 'incredibly tough couple of months' for her family but she was 'well and getting stronger every day'.

She added: 'My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.'

It comes after Prince William was allegedly spotted on a 'low key' pub outing in Norfolk with his mother-in-law, as his wife apparently stayed at home.

The Prince of Wales was seen over the weekend stopping off at an unnamed bar with Carole Middleton, who is said to have been staying with the couple over Easter.

Carole, 69, has reportedly been supporting her daughter through her recovery at her home in Windsor, with the Princess retiring from royal duties until to return by her medical team.

William's first public appearance since Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis saw him enjoying some father-son bonding time with George at Aston Villa's Conference League match up on Thursday.

The Prince of Wales was seen applauding in the Villa Park stands with his eldest son, Prince George, as forward Ollie Watkins' header saw Villa take an early lead over French side Lille in the 14th minute.

William - an avid Aston Villa fan - was seen mouthing a few words to his smiling son, dressed in a claret and blue supporters' scarf.

The family are currently understood to be spending the Easter Holiday in Norfolk, before the children return to their private school in Berkshire. 

The royal couple last visited Australia in 2014 when Prince George was just nine months old.

Prince William, 41, shared a personal message this week to the official Instagram account he shares with the Princess of Wales 

William and Kate pictured arriving at St David's Cathedral in Haverfordwest in Wales last September 8 for a service commemorating the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II

William and Kate were seen leaving Windsor together as they were driven in a car on March 11

Prince William, who has not been seen publicly since his wife's announcement, is not expected to pick back up his public duties until his children (pictured in 2020) return to school after the holidays 

During the three-week trip, the royal couple - who were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the time - visited Sydney, where a horrific knife attack in a shopping mall shocked the country today.

The knifeman, whose rampage saw six people killed earlier today, was shot dead by a hero female police officer, who apprehended the knifeman alone after being on patrol nearby.

The Sydney knifeman was a 40-year-old and was 'known to police'. 

His attack is not thought to be terror-related, New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb said.

Ms Webb told a press conference: 'Later this evening we became aware of who we believe the offender is and we believe that he is a 40-year-old man.

'However, we are waiting to formally identify him and we cannot speculate yet on his identification.

'But let me assure you that we are confident that there is no ongoing risk and we are dealing with one person who is now deceased.'

She added: 'If in fact it is the person that we believe it is, then we don't have fears for that person holding an ideation - in other words, that it's not a terrorism incident.

Prince William and Prince George were seen celebrating Aston Villa's opening goal vs Lille in footage coverage of the Conference League fixture aired by TNT Sports

William, who is an avid Aston Villa fan turned and appeared to say a few words to his son

'He is known to law enforcement but we are waiting to identify him formally.'

Speaking about the heroic cop, Commissioner Webb said she was 'doing well under the circumstances'.

Webb added: 'She showed enormous courage and bravery… we just talked [and] she's OK, her family is OK. She's got everything she needs for the time being.'