Royal Couple Honors Memory of Teenage Photographer

The Prince and Princess of Wales have honored the memory of a teenage photographer who passed away due to cancer. Liz Hatton, aged 17, of Harrogate, passed away during the early hours of Wednesday morning, as confirmed by her mother, Vicky Robayna, on social media. In a statement, William and Kate expressed: “We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away.”They further stated that it was “an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman”, concluding: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron and her brother Mateo at this unimaginably difficult time.” Liz initiated a photography bucket list campaign in January, following her diagnosis with an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumour and a prognosis of six months to three years. In October, she was photographed receiving a hug from Kate at Windsor Castle, having been invited to photograph William during an investiture ceremony. Kate, who underwent cancer treatment this year, and William had previously characterized Liz in a message as a “talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both”. Liz’s mother stated that her daughter “remained determined to the last”.”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.” Harrogate Grammar School, where Liz finished her GCSEs and started her A-levels before her cancer diagnosis, honored her as a “remarkable young person whose presence enriched our school community”. “She was curious about the world, refreshingly open, and known for her honest and positive spirit.”An incredible photographer, we remember her smile and straight-talking sense of humour.” Kerry Reeves-Kneip, a spokesperson for Sarcoma UK, a charity dedicated to bone and soft tissue cancer, commented that Liz’s “remarkable” photograph with Kate “captured a moment of genuine human connection that resonated with people around the world”.”Her passing is a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued research and better treatments for sarcoma – a rare and aggressive form of cancer that affects too many young lives.” The charity reports that an average of 12 cases of desmoplastic small round cell tumour are diagnosed annually in England. Due to the cancer’s rarity, a standard care treatment is not currently available. Only weeks before her death, Liz collaborated with Rankin, one of her photography idols, on a photoshoot involving professional models. Following the session, model Fifi Anicah stated that the images captured by the teenager were among her “favourite pictures of all time”. For her bucket list, Liz photographed comedian Michael McIntyre, circus performers, the Royal Ballet, models from the Storm Model Agency, the London Air Ambulances, and the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards.