Liz Hatton, 17, who drew up a photography bucket list which led her to meet Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer has sadly died
A teenager who inspired the Princess of Wales while battling cancer told how photography helped her through the “constant pain”.
Liz Hatton, 17, was diagnosed with an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumour and given six months to three years to live in January, has now sadly died her mum announced.
The youngster from Harrogate began a photography bucket list appeal after finding out she had cancer and was pictured being hugged by Kate at Windsor Castle in October after being invited to take pictures of the Prince of Wales at an investiture.
She wanted as many people as possible to see her photos and when Prince William heard about her target he arranged for her to come down to Windsor Castle.
Liz was joined at the Windsor Castle investiture by her mother, stepfather Aaron and brother Mateo, with the family “bowled over” when her invite led to a surprise private audience with William and Kate.
She told how it was photography that helped her through her as she faced cancer as it was a distraction from “the constant pain” she is in. She told The Mirror: “I’ve always loved photography because it’s a way to immortalise a moment for everyone to see.
“I’m particularly fascinated by the emotions that a photograph can portray, or make a viewer feel, as I think it’s almost magical that it can do that.” Liz said she was about nine or ten when she saved up hundreds of pounds to buy her first proper camera after playing around on a Kiddizoom camera.
“Another reason I especially like photography is the way that you can make each image or shoot entirely different to the last, meaning I’m never stuck doing the same old boring things over and over again,” she said. “The spontaneity that photography allows me is incredibly important as I don’t want to spend what little time I have left stuck being repeatedly bored. Instead, I can photograph a fashion show one day then my brother’s sports day the next.
“This way, I can pick up my camera and focus on new and exciting shoots which helps to distract me from the constant pain that I feel every second of every day, and the rest of the world doesn’t seem to matter as much.”
Liz’s mother Vicky Robayna paid tribute to her “incredible daughter” and the kindness, empathy and courage she showed, saying “she flew high until the end”. Her death at home early on Wednesday morning had left “a gaping Liz-shaped hole in our lives that I am not sure how we will ever fill”, she added.
Ms Robayna announced on X: “Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of this morning. She remained determined to the last. Even yesterday, she was still making plans. We are so very proud of the kindness, empathy and courage she has shown in the last year.
“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.”
