Like many mothers around the country, Louise Redknapp found herself explaining the London terror attack to her young children on Wednesday evening. The singer, who has two sons Charley and Beau with husband Jamie Redknapp, said that it was important to keep children informed of what was happening, despite the atrocities. The most important message she had for her sons was that they have to "be careful and vigilant" and "carry on as normal".
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Speaking during our exclusive Facebook Live chat, Louise said: "There was so much coverage yesterday that I think during the course of the evening you got to hear from so many important people that play a big part in keeping us safe in this country, and I think that's the part that I wanted my children to listen to. When the big chiefs come on the TV and say, 'We are doing all we can, we look after this country the best we can, and keep everybody as safe as we can,' and I think that's something I just kept on trying to explain to them, that we just have to carry on as normal and be really vigilant and be very careful. And also our hearts just go out to everybody that was hurt and lost their lives."
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Louise admitted that it was actually harder explaining the attack to her older son Charley, 12, than it was her young son Beau, eight. She said: "I think it's really hard, it's so hard to explain to them why things like that happen, especially to the younger one. And actually the younger one Beau, when I talk to him, he's eight, I kind of explain the situation and he accepts it and walks away."
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Louise Redknapp's husband Jamie and sons Charley and Beau
She added: "But the older one Charley, who's 12, actually I think is at a far more challenging age because he's at the age where freedom and being allowed to do things and go out, all of a sudden is all he cares and worries about. And sort of asking me if it's safe for him to go out and if he needs to be careful. And of course I tell him he needs to be careful and vigilant, but at the same time, I've heard so many debates about it this morning, we do have to carry on as normal. And that's the best way of not being beat."
On Wednesday afternoon, a man mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before proceeding to fatally stab unarmed PC Keith Palmer, who was on duty guarding Parliament. A total of four people have been confirmed dead, including the police officer and the attacker, while more than 40 others were injured. Mum-of-two Aysha Frade was on her way to collect her children from school when she was hit by the attacker's car on Westminster Bridge.