Princess Kate and Prince William has written an emotional tribute to Liz Hatton who died aged 17 from cancer, describing the teenager as “brave and humble”.
The statement read: “We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away.
It added: “It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time. W & C”
Princess Kate and Prince William has written an emotional tribute to Liz Hatton who died aged 17 from cancer, describing the teenager as “brave and humble”
Instagram / Prince and Princess of Wales
The teenage photographer, who inspired the Princess of Wales after pursuing a photography bucket list while facing a rare form of cancer, died yesterday evening.
The 17-year-old, from Harrogate, 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.
Prince William and Kate, who herself was treated for cancer this year, said in a personal message earlier in the autumn that Liz was a “talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both”.
Liz began a photography bucket list appeal in January after being diagnosed with an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumour and given six months to three years to live.
Liz’s mother Vicky Robayna paid shared the news on X with a 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.
Vicky Robayna wrote: “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 added: “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.”
She asked people to share one of Liz’s photos in tribute, under the hashtag #LizHatton, and also to support the family’s mission to fund research into Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour, which has no charity specialising in the disease in the UK.
Vicky has set up a fundraising page at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/vicky-robayna with a goal of raising £100,000.
