The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack by attending the opening of a new memorial. Travelling from London to Manchester for the poignant engagement, William and Kate were seen arriving at the Glade of Light Memorial on Tuesday afternoon.
The memorial commemorates the victims of the attack that took place at Ariana Grande's concert five years ago on 22 May. It honours the 22 people whose lives were taken in the horrific attack, as well as remembering everyone who was left injured or affected.
READ: Why Duchess Kate didn't join Prince William at the State Opening of Parliament
William, who earlier in the day attended his first State Opening of Parliament in lieu of the Queen, and his wife Kate attended a service held alongside the memorial, before going into Manchester Cathedral for a private reception.
See photos from the day below…
WATCH: Prince William and Kate pay emotional visit to Manchester
The Duke and Duchess were spotted arriving at the memorial which is located alongside Manchester Cathedral.
The memorial was designed following an international design competition. A white marble 'halo' ring sits at its heart, with the names of those who lost their lives set in bronze upon it. Personalised memory capsules, filled with memories and mementoes of them provided by loved ones, have been embedded within the stone.
The Glade of Light was designed to be a living memorial, a tranquil garden space for remembrance and reflection.
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A close up look of Kate's elegant royal attire for Tuesday's outing.
William and Kate attended a service that was held alongside the memorial, where the Duke gave some short remarks, addressing his own experience with grief.
The father-of-three, who attended a National Service of Commemoration at Manchester Cathedral in May 2018, said: "I remember only too well the shock and grief on the faces of those I met when I visited Manchester in the days following the atrocity. And the rawness of emotion at the Commemoration Service, held at your Cathedral just here, a year later.
"Five years on I know that the pain and the trauma felt by many, has not gone away."
William also addressed his experience as he added: "As someone who lives with his own grief, I also know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten.
"There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved.
"It is why memorials such as the Glade of Light are so important. Why Catherine and I so wanted to be amongst you today."
The Duke also made reference to the city singing Don't Look Back in Anger, saying: "When the people of Manchester gathered to pay respect to the victims just days after the atrocity, you told the world that your music would not be silenced. Instead, you raised your voices together and you sang a song of love that was written by some of this city's most famous sons.
"On that day you told each other that you would not look back in anger. And you showed the world the true heart of this extraordinary place."
He concluded: "So, when we come to this memorial let's look back with love for those we lost. Let's look back with love for the people who cared for and protected this community. And let's look back with love for the ongoing strength of the great city of Manchester."
The royals took a short walk around the memorial garden.
The Duchess knelt down to lay the flowers.
They then went inside Manchester Cathedral where they met some of the bereaved families and those involved in the response effort in a private reception.