Picture shows Alice, nine, smiling next to a cut-out of Taylor Swift (2024)

Smiling sweetly for the camera next to her idol Taylor Swift, this is the heartbreaking final photo of Aliceda Silva Aguiarbefore she was stabbed to death during the Southport rampage.

The nine-year-old was tragically killed at a Swift-themed dance class just moments after the image was taken at the entrance to the eventon Hart Street on July 29.

She was killed alongsideBebe King, six, andElsie Dot Stancombe, seven. Ten others were seriously injured.

The little girl's parents Sergio and Alexandra were joined by hundreds of family members and friends as they packed out St Patrick's Catholic Church in Southport for her funeral today.

The heartbroken pair paid tribute to their 'perfect dream child' who they described as a 'peacemaker of the playground' who loved animals and dancing.

Paying tribute, the parents said: 'Everything was idyllic from the moment you arrived.

'A good girl, with strong values and kind nature. A lover of animals and an environmentalist in the making. You moved our world with your confidence and empathy. Playful energetic, friendly, and always so respectful.

'A peacemaker of the playground. No shouting is a house rule you applied. A big task for a small girl, especially in a Portuguese household.

'Being around you was a privilege, we cherished every milestone. You completed us.

'In nine short years we never needed time off from you. We never gave up our time for anything that didn't involve you too. And if we did, we'd always do it separately so you could have one of us always next to you.'

The family, who is Portuguese, attended a celebration of her life on Tuesday, which is traditional in Portugal one week after a person has died.

Alice's family also released a collection of photos showing the child throughout her tragically short life.

The final picture of her alive showed a little girl looking delighted as she posed next to a cardboard cut-out of Swift while excitedly waiting for the dance class to begin.

Another image released by the family shows Alice as a toddler during one of her first ballet classes, to which she wore a pink tutu and ballet shoes.

Sergio and Alexandra said at the funeral today: 'You were born and raised into love and we loved cuddling you every night for almost nine years. Apart from the sleepovers and nights away with your friends, we were never apart.

'You liked to sleep with mummy and daddy, enjoyed shutting the curtains and watching Disney Plus with popcorn. Our room was your comfort place. You were our comfort and peace.

'As you were growing up from a princess to a pre-teen, we began to notice some changes, seeing your independence take shape. From your skincare regime to playing with makeup, to your dedication to school, to dance and to your faith.

'Your to-do-list was extensive and we were sure that you would achieve it if only you had the time.

'We talked about which high school you might attend, about growing up, having a big house and a garden and having children. Children who we will never help you raise. It hurts. We will never see you grow up.

'A day before your final struggle, mummy kept asking if you were okay. So much so that you and daddy asked 'why?'

'A part of me wondered if I was being too British. But ultimately, I realised I always wanted to know that you were okay. Now, daddy feels sorry for mummy, she has seen things no human should.

'You were taken away from us too soon and we often ask why? Why here? Why us? Why you? We wonder if you ever thought of us. Called for us. We wondered if you felt any pain. We hope not my darling.

'We then question could this have been avoided? Could we have stopped it somehow… we will never get over this pain. We promise to get all the answers. Mummy has seen too much, and we need to know.

'We feel shocked, unimaginable pain, we miss you.

'From time to time, the pin drops. When mommy says 'good night, Sergio, good night Alice' and then it hits us all over again. We don't hear you back.

'Moving forward will be hard. Some days are better than others, but none will be perfect. Some moments we are weak and we say wild things. But we made a promise to always be there for each other in moments of despair, a pinky promise.

'We share a strong bond and we'll always have each other to rely on.

'We won't be alone. We are surrounded by a wonderful community and their full support, family and friends, neighbours, work colleagues, the wonderful servicemen and women who serve the community, your school, your church and all your friends and their parents.

'We have the full support of the country and the privilege of multiplying that by two. For that, we're thankful.

'For now, our beloved Angel, keep dancing, mummy and daddy will always, always love you.'

Photos from the nine-year-old's funeral today show hundreds of devastated mourners arriving outside the church.

Among those who also gathered to pay their respects were Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable ofMerseyside Police, alongside uniformed officers from the police, ambulance and fire services.

The grieving crowd could be seen carrying flowers and pink balloons and were dressed in light colours.

A white coffin decorated with pink roses was carried into the church for the funeral which began at 2pm. Pink ribbons and balloons were tied to lampposts and garden walls.

A beautiful pink and white, horse-drawn carriage carried Alice's coffin to the church.

About 300 members of the public lined Marshside Road as the funeral cortege arrived, along with about 30 uniformed police officers.

Applause broke out as the carriage containing the coffin approached the church entrance.

Several hundred people gathered in the church while more listened outside as the service was relayed on loudspeakers.

The stabbing suspect isAxel Rudakubana, who turned 18 this month, and who was born to Rwandan parents in Cardiff in 2006 before moving to the village of Banks in Lancashire in 2013.

Alice's headteacher also paid an emotional tribute to the nine-year-old at her funeral, tearfully saying 'teach those angels a few dance moves'.

Jinnie Payne, Alice's headteacher at Churchtown Primary School in Southport, listed the youngster's smile and enthusiasm for life among her 'seven qualities'.

Ms Payne read a poem about her pupil, called Here Comes Alice, in which she mentioned how Alice once decorated a teacher's pointer to look like a magic wand.

Finishing it, she said tearfully: 'The time has come to say "there goes Alice".

'We are letting you go dancing now, Alice. Teach those angels a few dance moves.

'Keep daydreaming, Alice, it's a magical place to be, in your own thoughts.

'Make magic every day with your teacher pointer, Alice, and we will feel the power of your magic ability.

'Let your beaming smile guide you, Alice, and shine brightly on us all.'

Ms Payne told of 'Alice qualities', which she wished 'every child' at her school could have.

The headteacher said the qualities 'were in abundance' and 'came naturally to her', demonstrating the youngster's 'character'.

She told mourners: 'Number one, to have a big smile. Not to smile big, there is a difference. Alice wore a natural smile every day, it wasn't forced and it wasn't put on.

'It was everywhere she went. It was her best friend.

'Number two, polite and respectful. Alice's manners took her everywhere. She showed politeness, not just "thank you", but always "thank you" with a reason attached.

'Number three, to have interest in others, genuine interest and being inquisitive. Alice asked lots of questions and she remembered things about you.

'She remembered the names of your children, she remembered where you went on holiday, so you had to be very careful about what you told Alice.

'Number four, equality, I love this one. This has to be my favourite, how a child at such a young age could not favour one other friend over another.

'Friends, she played equally with them all. That is so hard to do, and she mastered it.

'(Number five), enthusiasm for life. Alice wanted to do everything there was on offer and she seized those opportunities and you (her parents) provided them for Alice.

'But along with those opportunities is number six. She did support and guide. So if she felt things weren't up to her standard she would tell you, and she would then help you put it right.

'Finally, the number seven is family. Alice's words, "it doesn't matter who your family are as long as they love each other", and Alice did that.'

Meanwhile Alice's aunt, Albertina Freitas, told ITV News in Madeira, Portugal, that the little girl's father has been left paralysed by his grief.

'We are not going through it directly, but we can imagine the pain my brother is experiencing. It is an immense pain.'

Talking about her sister, Ms Freitas added: 'She doesn't speak at all.'

She said: 'My brother-in-law is in such a state that he can't even talk to the family. We try to talk to him but he doesn't want to. He just clings to the girl's things.'

In an earlier tribute, Alice's parents said: 'Keep smiling and dancing like you love to do our Princess, like we said before to you, you're always our princess and no one would change that.'

Liverpool players observed a minute's silence before their pre-season friendly match against Sevilla at Anfield stadium today, in memory of Alice, Bebe and Elsie.

Players could be seen linking arms as they dropped their heads to remember the victims, while the coaches and substitutes did the same.

Fans in the stadium also joined in with the minute silence.

Leading the service at St Patrick's Church, Father John Heneghan previously told BBC Radio Merseyside that Alice was a 'wonderfully happy girl' who brought 'joy to her mum and dad'.

He said the town's residents were 'very bruised' and would remain that way for a long time following the attack.

In recent days, violent riots have exploded across several cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Plymouth and Birmingham following the Southport knife rampage which claimed the lives of the three girls.

False speculation online that the teenage suspect was an asylum seeker who had arrived in the UK on a boat has fuelled the unrest which started outside a mosque in Southport and has since spread across the UK.

The misinformation is believed to have originated from a Russian-linked fake news website.

Right-wing groups have organised dozens of protests from Liverpool to Hull and Middlesbrough to Plymouth - with many filled with anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Riots have seen hotels housing migrants set on fire and police attacked with bricks or glass bottles.

The Prime Minister told Cabinet that 'people across the country want their streets to be safe and to feel safe in their communities, and we will take all necessary action to bring the disorder to an end'.