'We are so grateful': Liz Hatton's mother thanks Kate and William for helping to make her late daughter's last months 'the brightest of her life'
- Liz, from Harrogate, Yorkshire, had been battling cancer as a teenager
- Help Liz's family donate to Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour Research here
- READ MORE: Terminally ill Liz Hatton, 17, who shared a sweet hug with Kate Middleton, hosts her very own photography exhibition in London
Liz Hatton's mother has thanked the Prince and Princess of Wales for their support.
Vicky Robayna, who revealed her daughter died aged 17 earlier this week, took to X, formerly Twitter, to say she is 'so grateful' to the royals.
'Thank you, we are so very grateful to you both and all of your team for the kindness you have shown us all and the opportunities you made possible for Liz.
'Her last two months were the brightest of her life.
'You introduced the world to her work. We will always be immensely grateful to you for that'.
The Prince and Princess of Wales paid tribute to the aspiring photographer yesterday.
Liz, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, her mother announced on X/Twitter, after a battle with desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer.
Posting a heartfelt message on the same social media platform, as well as their Instagram story, the royal couple wrote: 'We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman.
Liz Hatton made headlines after she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture, where she found herself meeting the Prince and Princess of Wales
The teacher, who revealed her daughter died aged 17 earlier this week, took to X, formerly Twitter, to say she is 'so grateful' to the royals
'Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz's parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time.' The parents-of-three signed off the message with their initials, 'W & C', indicating they had written the tribute personally.
Tragically, Liz passed away days before she was due to celebrate an early Christmas with her family; something Femail understands was a dear wish of Mateo's.
Speaking to the Mail, Vicky said: 'Our lovely Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to her last. Even yesterday she was telling me that I had better get nurses sorted so she could do more things.
'She went out in a blaze of glory with almost everyone she cared out seeing her for the last time at her exhibition last week.'
Kate, an amateur photographer herself, first met Liz at Windsor Castle at the beginning of October, when the 17-year-old was invited by the Prince and Princess of Wales to take photos of Prince William carrying out investitures that day - giving her the chance to capture famous faces including Mark Cavendish.
In one of the Princess's only engagements of the year, she and Liz bonded over their love of photography. It is understood that although the pair had each had their own cancer journeys, they did not discuss their diagnoses as the teenager didn't want to be 'defined' by cancer.
Earlier this year the couple invited the passionate young photographer and her family into Windsor Castle after hearing how she was asking for help to complete a 'bucket list' of assignments while he still could.
Liz first captured the attention of the nation when she shared a warm hug with Kate; which was captured in a photo that spoke a thousand words showing the resilience and warmth of both the Princess and the teenager.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met young photographer Liz Hatton and her family (pictured) at Windsor Castle in October
She was given unprecedented permission to photograph William handing out honours during an investiture, and then invited to have tea with him and Catherine afterwards.
Liz’s mother Vicky has previously told the Mail that her daughter had been ‘beyond grateful’ for everything the prince and princess had done for her.
Having heard that lemon drizzle cake was her favourite, they even ensured that it was served for her at afternoon tea when she visited the castle.
Liz, who was already struggling to eat and drink due to the aggressive nature of her tumours, said it was ‘the best she had ever tasted’.
Their office also regularly checked in on the young woman and her family after their meeting and Liz had been hoping to travel to London next week for the Princess’ annual carol service if she was well enough.
As a result of their meeting, the brave teenager was inundated with offers and able to complete almost all of her bucket list, and more.
Since then, Liz has been living out her wish list, which she began comprising in January of 2024 when she was given between six months and three years to live, and - after deciding to stop months of gruelling treatment - dropped her studies to pursue her dream of taking photos.
She inspired people all over the nation with the 'bucket list' of moments she wanted to capture - including snapping behind the scenes of a West End show and helping out on a film set.
Liz Hatton, the talented teen photographer who moved the royals with her candid cancer journey, has passed away aged
The Prince and Princess of Wales posted on X/Twitter to share their sadness at the death of Liz Hatton, who passed away in the early ours of Wednesday morning
Strangers around the country rallied to help get Liz behind the lens at some of the most coveted gigs in the world - which ended up with her sharing a sweet moment with Kate.
It was the first time that the princess had been pictured since she announced she was planning a slow and measured return to work following her own cancer diagnosis in February.
Liz had described it as being beyond her 'wildest imagination' - and revealed she hadn't even considered including meeting royalty on her list.
'Of course I didn't expect anything like this to happen - I didn't even expect to be able to fulfil any of my original bucket list - never mind additions like this that were so far beyond our wildest imagination,' she said.
'The day was truly incredible. I was practically shell shocked every other minute as they told us what we were going to be doing, especially so when the Prince and Princess walked into the room.
'So I am beyond honoured to have had this experience and very thankful that my family could join me and experience it as well.
Liz, from Harrogate, Yorkshire, had been battling desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and extremely aggressive form of the disease
Liz's mother, Vicky, posted an emotional statement on X to say her 'incredible daughter' had died
'The Prince and Princess were very kind and honest, there was nothing to suggest that they were trying to be superior or grand they were just genuine, real, kind people.
'It was great to talk to Princess Catherine about photography because I know she loves it to and it is always great to talk about what you love or enjoy, and of course photography is my passion. '
The meeting came about - her mother Vicky explained - after someone working for the London Air Ambulance charity, of which Prince William is patron, spotted a social media post she had put up on behalf of her daughter earlier this year asking for help in completing her 'bucket list'.
'They then got in touch with the Palace who invited her in June but couldn't make the date because she was having chemo those days,' she told the Mail.
'But they were really, really lovely and said not to worry, they would try again. That invitation was to take photos of the investiture, we knew nothing about meeting the Prince and Princess. She was very excited about it all anyway.
'They kept in touch and asked a couple of weeks ago if she could make October 2. We said absolutely she could! We set off just thinking she was going to take photos of the investiture and then ended up meeting the prince and princess and spent about half an hour chatting to them. Which was truly incredible.'
Vicky, who was at the meeting along with her husband Aaron, Liz's step-father, and her younger brother, Mateo, eight, said her daughter and Catherine spent 'lots of time talking about photography'.
'She was really lovely and asked Liz lots of questions about things she might like to photograph, which was really kind of her,' she added.
In January of 2024, she was given between six months and three years to live, and - after deciding to stop months of gruelling treatment - dropped her studies to pursue her dream of taking photos
Although Liz's list is what made her first known to most people, her legacy went far beyond these accomplishments - as she even had an exhibition held in her name. Her mother's message after the exhibition
'They didn't speak about their health. Liz is very keen to say that she is not defined by her cancer. So they spent time talking about the things they enjoyed.
'The Princess asked lots of lovely questions, in fact they were both really good, particularly at including our little boy in the conversation. They were such lovely, kind, genuine people. '
Kensington Palace later posted pictures of the meeting on their social media accounts along with images that Liz had taken on the day and a personal message from the couple saying how moved they had been.
Speaking to The Times afterwards, Vicky revealed that Palace staff were calling 'every day to check they're alright'. 'I've honestly never seen Liz as alive as she has been this week,' she added.
Mrs Robayna said that Liz, who fell in love with photography as a young girl, would have 'loved nothing more' than her photographs being 'seen one more time'.
The mother said: 'I could not be prouder of her. She has faced every day with unbelievable bravery. And now it's our turn to do her proud and give her brother the life she expects us to.
'She was never scared of dying but she was terrified of leaving him behind. It's our job to make that a little easier for her.'
Mrs Robayna has asked people to share one of her daughter's photos on social media so Liz can 'go out with a bang'.
Liz pictured greeting guests attend the Liz Hatton photography exhibition hosted by British Land and Getty Images
Impressed guests were snapped looking around at the some of the photographer's incredible work at her very own exhibition, while Liz sweetly posed with her relatives
Although Liz's list is what made her first known to most people, her legacy went far beyond these accomplishments - as she even had an exhibition held in her name. Pictured with her mother
Despite her pain, she was proud to attend an exhibition of her work in London just days before she died.
Writing on X alongside a black and white photo of Liz, Mrs Robayna paid tribute to her 'incredible daughter' saying she was 'determined to the last'.
'We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year,' she said.
'She was not only a phenomenal photographer, she was the best human, and the most wonderful daughter and big sister we could ever have asked for.
'No one could have fought harder for life than she did. There is a gaping Liz shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill.
'We have so much gratitude to every single one of you, whether you offered to help, or liked or shared posts - you ensured Liz's last two months were her very best. She flew high until the end.'
Liz's bucket list also included watching the filming of her favourite show, Would I Lie To You, having her photos published in as many magazines as possible, taking pictures of the catwalk at London Fashion Week, capturing circus performers practicing their act and helping with filming a movie.
She had also wanted to photograph a music festival, take photos of the Christmas markets at Tivoli Gardens, do a photo shoot with professional models and take photos in a fashion shoot at a big fashion house.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain alongside her mother, Liz told Rob Rinder on how they dealt with the diagnosis
Six, the West End musical, found out about Liz's list and invited her to photograph the pre-show warm up and the cast.
And in another sweet moment, Liz was spotted working alongside photographers to capture celebrities attending the UK premiere of Tom Hardy's Venom: The Last Dance.
Although Liz's list is what made her first known to most people, her legacy went far beyond these accomplishments - as she even had an exhibition held in her name.
In November the talented teenager joined her family as they stepped out at the special event hosted by British Land and Getty Images at 2 Kingdom Street, Paddington Cenal in London.
Impressed guests were snapped looking around at the some of the photographer's incredible work at her very own exhibition, while Liz sweetly posed with her relatives.
'Liz had her very own exhibition last week, the perfect culmination of her incredible achievements,' her mother wrote in a moving X post afterwards.
'As I walked around looking at her pictures thinking about the circumstances many were taken under I was more in awe of her than ever.
'It has taken a while for me to update on here because last week the joy we felt was accompanied by the fact that Liz has become increasingly tired.
'At the end of this week we will celebrate Christmas early as a family. We know our time is short now.
Liz took this snap of comedian Michael McIntyre at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. It is one of the last photos she posted on her Instagram page
The young campaigner made headlines after she was invited to Windsor Castle to photograph an investiture. Liz captured the moment cycling legend Mark Cavendish received his knighthood from Prince William
'To all of you who have supported her work and cheered her on from afar please know how much you mean to us. She has lived a wonderful life and that is in no small part down to you. Thank you x.'
Liz first started having problems at the end of last year, with stomach bloating, and shoulder pain.
However, eventually her swelling worsened and the teen ended up in A&E, with initial suspicions that she had cysts on her ovaries.
Eventually, doctors revealed that Liz was suffering with cancer.
'I thought at the worst I'd have one or two days off school and then all of a sudden I'm having an operation and I'm staying in hospital overnight, which I would never have dreamed of happening, because that is not me,' she told The Times.
'And since then it's all been just slightly insane, but slowly it became the new normal. I mean, I tried my very best to stay with all my schoolwork.
'In fact, the first thing I did when I got told it was cancer was email all of my teachers and say, I'm sorry, I won't be in school for a few weeks, but please still send me all of your work and please set up video links and, like, Teams.'
Despite the hardships she faced, Liz always maintained an optimistic outlook on living life to the fullest.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain alongside her mother, Liz told Rob Rinder on how they dealt with the diagnosis.
'We just have to try to remain positive because what's the point in wasting what little time I have left,' she revealed.
Her mother, Vicky, said: 'Because Liz's cancer has gone to her liver we knew her chances of survival was nil so it was really important that we live each day as if it was our last.
'When we ask how we do it we don't think any far forward than the next exciting thing we have planned. If we look to the future, that's too scary and we would sit in bed and not get up.'
Liz - who said she was not scared of dying - had also explained that she was given the option to continue with chemotherapy or to stop having treatment.
She said: 'Because of the chances of them working being so slim, I wanted to spend time with my family and enjoy the time I have left, instead of spending it stuck in hospital and feeling even more terrible and dealing with side effects.
'I chose to stop my chemo and just live my life at home and just deal with whatever comes.'
Liz clearly meant the world to her family, with her mother often remarking on how much her daughter has been able to achieve at such a young age. She was grateful for the moments of levity photography was able to offer her.
'We both just look forward to the next thing she's got on. It's harder being at home because you have the time to think about it,' Vicky told the Stray Ferret.
'But her camera stops her thinking about the cancer – it's like it stops the pain.
'It's difficult to know how long she has left, and how long she will be well enough to keep taking these opportunities. So, why wouldn't we take the opportunities whilst we can?
'Everyone wants their child's dreams to come true. We don't have a guaranteed tomorrow, but we just focus on what she has got on next.'
Vicky has also set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour Research, with a goal of £100,000. You can donate to the family's JustGiving page here.
She wrote: 'In January 2024 our beautiful 17 year old daughter was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour - a rare and aggressive sarcoma that affects just 12 people in the UK per year.
'It has a 5 year survival rate of just 15%. Liz died in the early hours of this morning, just 10 months after her diagnosis.
'DSRCT has no dedicated organisation fighting for funding and no recognised treatment protocol. Funding information when Liz was first diagnosed was like hunting for a needle in a haystack. We hope that this page will help to change this, enabling families like ours to have access to kinder treatments and better outcomes.
'Liz had the best medical team we could ever have hoped for, but to change the outcome more research is needed. We hope that funds raised will raise awareness and help fund research into discreet treatments for DSRCT in the UK.
'15% is too small a number. Together we can change that. Liz’s bucket list had a village that came along to try to try to help her achieve it. Let’s make this the final item and do her proud.
'(N.B. Added to the above target is an additional £4,200 which has been donated to Liz’s own GoFundMe in the last 24 hours).'
