Liz Hatton: Royals pay tribute to 'brave' teen photographer
Check out Liz Hatton as she shares her experience of meeting the gracious Kate at Windsor Castle.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have honored a young photographer who passed away due to cancer.
Seventeen-year-old Liz Hatton from Harrogate passed away early on Wednesday morning, as her mother Vicky Robayna shared on social media.
William and Kate expressed their condolences in a statement, saying, "We were deeply saddened to learn of Liz Hatton's passing."
They expressed that it was "a privilege to have encountered such a courageous and modest young woman," and they continued, "We are thinking of and praying for Liz’s parents, Vicky and Aaron, as well as her brother Mateo, during this incredibly challenging time."
Photo credit: Kensington Palace/Andrew Parsons
Liz and her family had the opportunity to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales in a private setting.
In January, Liz launched a photography bucket list campaign after receiving a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive cancer called desmoplastic small round cell tumor, which gave her a life expectancy of six months to three years.
In October, she was seen receiving a warm embrace from Kate at Windsor Castle after being invited to capture photos of William during an investiture ceremony.
Kate, who underwent cancer treatment herself this year, and William previously described Liz as a "gifted young photographer whose artistic flair and resilience have deeply inspired us."
Photo credit: Kensington Palace/Andrew Parsons
In October, the Princess of Wales had a meeting with Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle.
Liz's mom noted that her daughter stayed resolute until the very end.
We take great pride in the compassion, understanding, and bravery she has demonstrated over the past year.
"She was not only an incredible photographer; she was also an amazing person and the most wonderful daughter and sister we could have ever wished for."
Harrogate Grammar School, the place where Liz finished her GCSEs and started her A-level studies before her cancer diagnosis, honored her as an “extraordinary young individual whose influence enhanced our school community.”
She had a natural curiosity about the world, an inviting openness, and was recognized for her genuine and uplifting nature.
"A remarkable photographer, we fondly recall her warm smile and candid sense of humor."
Last month, Liz Hatton captured images from the UK debut of Venom: The Last Dance.
Kerry Reeves-Kneip, a representative for the bone and soft tissue cancer charity Sarcoma UK, expressed that Liz's "incredible" photo with Kate portrayed a true moment of human connection that touched people globally.
"Her death highlights the pressing need for ongoing research and improved therapies for sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that impacts far too many young people."
The charity reports that in England, there are typically 12 new cases of desmoplastic small round cell tumor identified annually.
Due to the uncommon nature of this cancer, there isn't a standard treatment plan available at this time.
Just last week, Liz participated in an art exhibition featuring her work, organized by British Land and Getty Images in London.
A couple of weeks prior to her passing, Liz had the opportunity to collaborate with one of her photography idols, Rankin, during a photoshoot featuring professional models.
After the photo shoot, model Fifi Anicah expressed that the images captured by the teenager were some of her "most favorite pictures of all time."
As a goal she wanted to achieve, Liz took pictures of comedian Michael McIntyre, circus artists, dancers from the Royal Ballet, models from the Storm Model Agency, the London Air Ambulance team, and the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
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