Kate and William’s Heartfelt Tribute to Brave Teen Photographer Liz Hatton, Who Lost Her Battle with Rare Cancer
It began with a mother’s desperate plea on social media and ended with a story of courage, compassion, and connection that has touched millions. Princess Kate and Prince William have been praised for their ongoing support of a teenage girl who battled a rare cancer with grace and determination — and for the moving tribute they continue to make in her memory.
A Teen with a Dream
Liz Hatton, a 17-year-old from Harrogate, Yorkshire, was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour — an aggressive and little-known abdominal cancer. Despite the devastating prognosis, Liz refused to allow the illness to silence her passions. A budding photographer, she set out to complete a “bucket list” of dream assignments, determined to capture the world through her lens while she still could.
Her mother, Vicky Robayna, shared Liz’s story online in the hope of finding opportunities for her daughter. The appeal was soon picked up by contacts within an air ambulance charity supported by Prince William. Within weeks, Liz’s quiet wish had turned into something extraordinary: she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph a royal investiture, capturing Prince William himself as he presented honours to distinguished Britons.
Meeting the Royals
That day in October 2024, Liz arrived at Windsor with her parents and younger brother Mateo. Cameras clicked as she nervously adjusted her lens, but her smile widened when she spotted the Prince and Princess of Wales waiting for her.
Kate, who was privately undergoing chemotherapy for her own cancer treatment at the time, greeted the teenager with a warm embrace, wrapping her arms around Liz and Mateo as though they were her own family.
“Liz always said they were two of the most genuine people she ever met,” Vicky later told PEOPLE. “They were kind, down-to-earth, and so good with the children. Her favourite part wasn’t the photographs — it was how William and Kate made Mateo feel comfortable, even though he was so shy.”
It was a meeting that left a permanent mark on both families. For Liz, it was a validation of her talent and a moment of joy in the midst of an unimaginably difficult battle. For William and Kate, it was a chance to quietly extend the compassion that has defined their public roles.
A Final Farewell
Tragically, Liz passed away on November 27, 2024. In her final months, she continued to seize every opportunity, taking photos until just five days before her death. Her resilience, her artistry, and her refusal to let illness define her inspired countless people around the world.
When news broke, William and Kate issued a rare personal statement, signed simply “W & C,” expressing their sorrow and sending prayers to her parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo. Alongside the message, the family received a special gift: a white rose — the Ice N Roses Early Rose — planted in their garden, designed to bloom every November in Liz’s memory.
Carrying Her Legacy
For Liz’s parents, the rose is more than a flower. “Every year, when it blooms, it feels like a reminder that she is still with us,” Vicky explained. “It was such a thoughtful gesture, and it keeps her memory alive in the most beautiful way.”
The couple have since established Capture, the world’s first charity dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research into Liz’s rare form of sarcoma. Since November 2024, the charity has raised over £130,000, much of it propelled by the attention Liz’s story received thanks to her royal supporters.
“Without the Princess’s support, we wouldn’t have raised nearly as much awareness or funding,” Vicky said. “Liz’s story reached the world because of them.”
Ongoing Support
Kate and William’s involvement has not ended with Liz’s passing. The Robayna family were invited to Kate’s carol service at Westminster Abbey in December 2024, and later attended a Buckingham Palace garden party in May 2025, where they personally thanked the couple for their kindness.
At each event, Mateo — still grieving his sister — found comfort in recalling the joyful moments he had shared with Liz during her photography adventures. “His memories are incredible ones that will sustain him for a lifetime,” Vicky said. “Instead of focusing on her illness, he talks about Windsor Castle, about the exhibitions, about her joy.”
Kate’s Own Journey
Liz’s story has carried particular resonance for Princess Kate, who has been courageously undergoing cancer treatment herself. Insiders say Kate was moved not only by Liz’s determination, but by her insistence on spreading kindness and positivity despite her suffering.
Liz was also deeply upset by the scrutiny Kate faced during her diagnosis, with some media outlets criticising the Princess for not revealing more details. “Liz said it should be each individual’s choice what they share about their health,” Vicky explained. “She wanted people to know how kind the Princess was, and to make sure the world saw the real person behind the headlines.”
“A Mother’s Love Never Fades”
Today, Liz’s family continue to share her message of hope and resilience. At Kensington Palace, Kate and William are said to keep Liz in their thoughts — a reminder of the countless ordinary lives touched by their work.
For Vicky, the rose in her garden is both a comfort and a challenge: a reminder to keep fighting for research, awareness, and change. “Would I choose to have her alive under any circumstances? Of course. But if she had to die, it could not have been a more positive experience of death, of care, of being loved by the world.”
In the end, Liz’s story is not only about illness, but about life: about a young girl who refused to let cancer steal her dreams, and about the compassion of two royals who ensured those dreams came true.
As one supporter put it: “Liz showed us how to live fully, and William and Kate showed us how to care deeply. That’s a legacy that will never fade.”