Liz Hatton, who met the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, and touched the hearts of the nation, was diagnosed with an incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour less than one year ago
A teenager who inspired the Princess of Wales had only one fear despite dying of cancer – but it was a heartbreaking concern.
Liz Hatton met Princess Kate last month after she was invited by Prince William to take pictures of an investiture he was holding at Windsor Castle. Liz’s photography bucket list caught the attention of Kate as she too had been diagnosed with cancer at a similar time.
And Liz, 17, was never scared of dying, her mum said last night as she paid an emotional tribute to her daughter. However, the teenager, of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was afraid she was leaving her younger brother, Mateo, behind. Their mum, Vicky Robayna, expressed the family’s desire to ensure they support Mateo now.
“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,” the mum said.
The family had arranged to celebrate Christmas early this weekend because it was Mateo’s wish to have her here for it. Tragically, it wasn’t to be as.
But, although her condition was rapidly deteriorating, the teenager on the red carpet of the Royal Variety Show last Friday and was proud beyond belief to attend an exhibition of her incredible work in London.
Ms Robayna told the Daily Mail : “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… Even yesterday she was telling me that I had better get nurses sorted so she could do more things.”
Liz was diagnosed with an incurable desmoplastic small round cell tumour less than one year ago. She compiled an inspirational “bucket list” of assignments to complete in the last months of her life, which reached the ears of the future king and queen.
And, in a poignant encounter, Kate was seen embracing the aspiring photographer at Windsor Castle in October. The picture touched the hearts of the nation as the Princess of Wales has gone through her own cancer journey this year. It is understood the pair talked warmly about their shared love of photography. Ms Robayna’s said Liz’s passion for the art began when she was a young child.
The family have now started a Just Giving page saying they are making it their mission to raise money to fund research into demoplastic small round cell tumour in Liz’s memory.
