Prince William and Kate Middleton.Photo: PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Kate MiddletonandPrince Williamshared a personal tweet reacting to themurderof conservative British lawmaker David Amess.
The note was signed “W & C,” standing for William and Catherine and highlighting that the tweet came directly from the couple.
In 2015, Amess was awarded a knighthood for political and public service, taking the opportunity todress as a Medieval knightto celebrate the occasion.
Regardless of the political party in charge in the U.K., the monarchy and Parliament must work together in order to keep things running smoothly. Therefore, the royal family — includingQueen Elizabeth— does not vote or publicly express their political views.
The Guardianreports that MP Amess wasattackedat a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea during a meeting with voters.
John Lamb, a local councillor who was also at the event, told Reuters Amess that was “stabbed several times,” saying in the earlier interview: “We’re not sure how serious it is but it’s not looking good.”
Amess, 69, “died at the scene,” according to Essex police.
The outlet further reports thatpolice issued a statementnoting that a suspect was arrested after police arrived on the scene.
“We were called to reports of a stabbing in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, shortly after 12.05pm today. Officers were on scene shortly after, arrested a man and recovered a knife. He is currently in custody,” the statement read. “We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public. We want to thank the public who alerted us to the incident so quickly.”
Amess' final tweet was about the Friday meeting with voters, which was known as a “constituency surgery,” allowing lawmakers to meet face-to-face with constituents to discuss local issues.
David Amess.Zoe Norfolk/Getty Images
“All our hearts are full of shock and sadness at the death of Sir David Amess MP,” Johnson wrote on Twitter. “He was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics.”
The Prime Minister’s wife Carrie Johnson also tweeted her condolences to his family, writing, “Absolutely devastating news about Sir David Amess. He was hugely kind and good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent. This is so completely unjust. Thoughts are with his wife and their children.”
Former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron shared his thoughts on Twitter, calling Amess — one of the British Parliament’s longest-serving MPs — “a kind and thoroughly decent man.”
“This is the most devastating, horrific & tragic news,” wrote Cameron. “David Amess was a kind & thoroughly decent man - & he was the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet. Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today. Right now, my heart goes out to David’s family.”
source: people.com
