Kate Middleton and Prince William issue heartfelt statement after tragic death of MP David Amess

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid their respects to MP David Amess following his murder on Friday.

• Kate Middleton and Prince William penned an emotional tribute to MP David Amess just hours after his tragic death on Friday.
• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took to Twitter to share their condolences with David's loved ones.
• This royal news follows Prince William revealing Prince George is "confused" by this sad life reality

Kate Middleton and Prince William took to their official Twitter page to pay their respects to MP David Amess after he was murdered at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex on Friday morning.

"We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Sir David Amess, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community," the couple penned.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues," they added.

Sir David had been an MP since 1983 and was married with five children. He is the second serving MP to be killed in the past five years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 outside a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

Essex Police were called to reports of a stabbing at Belfairs Methodist Church where they arrested a 25-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of murder.

Essex Police Chief Constable BJ Harrington said Sir David was "simply dispensing his duties when his life was horrifically cut short".

Counter-terrorism officers are working with Essex Police and the Eastern Region Specialist Operations Unit.

"The fatal stabbing in Leigh-on-Sea has tonight been declared as a terrorist incident, with the investigation being led by Counter Terrorism Policing," the Met said.

"The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer laid flowers at the scene together on Saturday morning.

Speaking after the tragic event, Boris Johnson said Sir David had an "outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable".

"David was a man who believed passionately in this country and in its future. We've lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague," he said.

Sir Keir Starmer added: "We will show once more that violence, intimidation, and threats to our democracy will never prevail over the tireless commitment of public servants simply doing their jobs."

In honour of his work as an MP in the area for almost 40 years, Southend-on-Sea will be made a city. Although there aren't any direct financial benefits that come with the change, what city status does mean is that there is the possibility of regeneration in the area in the future.

The late MP campaigned tirelessly for 20 years to have the town be made into a city officially.