Kate Middleton pays tribute to late teen with cancer after fulfilling her ‘bucket list' dream

Yahoo

10-03-2025

Catherine, Princess of Wales, is celebrating the life of British teen Liz Hatton, who recently died after being diagnosed with a fast-progressing and rare form of cancer.
Hatton was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumors in January 2024 when she was 16, British outlet Sky News reported. Hatton's mother, Vicky Roboyna, told the outlet that doctors informed her daughter at the time that she only had about six months to three years to live.
Hatton, a young photographer, decided to create a 'bucket list' of events and images she wanted to snap before her death. The teen told BBC Radio 4 that one of the items on her list was 'photographing a royal.'
In October 2024, she checked off that goal. The official X account for the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photo of Hatton hugging the former Kate Middleton. The account included another snap of Hatton posing with her family beside Prince William and his wife at Windsor Castle.
'A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today,' the Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted. 'A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us.'
Hatton also uploaded pictures she took from the special day on Instagram. 'I was absolutely honoured to be invited to Windsor Castle the other day, where I had the pleasure of not only photographing the events but also meeting the Prince and Princess with my family alongside me. I could not be more thankful to everyone involved, as you were all so kind, welcoming and supportive,' she captioned a series of snaps.
'Thank you all, and I can only hope that my photos do the day as much justice as possible,' she continued, sharing a second set of photos, as well.
About a month later, Hatton's family announced on Instagram that she had died at the age of 17.
'Our incredible daughter Liz died in the early hours of yesterday morning,' her family shared in a Nov. 28, 2024 statement, in part. 'She remained determined to the last. Even the day before 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.'
Desmoplastic small round cell tumors, or DSRCT, refers to tumors that usually grow in the abdomen or pelvic area, according to the National Cancer Institute. The tumors develop in the connective tissue of the body, like fat, muscles, tendons, lymph and blood vessels and nerves.
The National Cancer Institute describes DSRCT as 'very rare' and reports that just 200 cases of the cancer have been recorded since 1989.
In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, the Princess of Wales, who was diagnosed with cancer in March 2024, paid tribute to Hatton's legacy on X by including her among 'the brilliant women who have inspired us over the last 12 (months).'
She retweeted the post with Hatton from October and said, 'Celebrating the strength and creativity of Liz and Vicky Hatton. It was an honour meeting them both in Windsor in October.'
Kate added, 'Liz's memory (lives) on in Vicky's unwavering resilience. Thank you for such a moving moment.'
The Princess of Wales announced in January that her cancer is in remission. She shared the news in a statement on Instagram beside a photo of her visiting a cancer patient at the Royal Marsden Hospital, where the royal was also treated and now holds the title of joint patron.
'It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal,' Kate said at the time. 'I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.'
This article was originally published on TODAY.com