Princess of Wales Kate Middleton hugged Liz Hatton- a 16-year-old battling a rare cancer during a private meeting at Windsor Castle.
Diagnosed with a desmoplastic small round cell tumor Liz's prognosis is between six months to three years and she has set out to complete a photography bucket list.
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| The Prince and Princess of Wales / Instagram |
Liz's journey touched Prince William who extended the invitation through the London Air Ambulance Charity where he serves as patron. After the event Liz and her family including her mother Vicky, stepfather Aaron, and brother Mateo met privately with William and Kate who showed deep empathy by listening to Liz’s cancer story and her passion for photography.
The post captioned "A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us. ❤️ W&C"
.jpg "A Heartfelt Meeting: The Princess of Wales Embraces Cancer-Fighter Liz Hatton - Pride Moment") |
| The Prince and Princess of Wales / Instagram |
This was the Princess of Wales' first public appearance since completing her preventative chemotherapy. During the private meeting, Kate hugged Liz highlighting the shared bond through their cancer experiences. Dressed in a burgundy suit Kate expressed warmth and compassion in her interactions despite the private nature of the event which wasn't officially recorded.
Liz’s photography has been emotional amid her battle with her work in military events, West End shows, and television sets. At just 16 she began photography in Year 6 saving up for her first camera. Her passion led to meaningful experiences like the Windsor investiture, which she attended as part of her bucket list.
Her meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales marks one of many moving experiences Liz has pursued as she contends with her illness.
Following the event the royal couple shared Liz’s photographs on social media with a heartfelt message acknowledging her creativity and resilience. Liz was deeply touched later calling the royal family “genuine and kind,” and expressed her gratitude for the experience.
The story is significant as it also highlights Kate’s journey through chemotherapy. Kate who had been quiet about her health struggles revealed her battle earlier in the year and shared in a family video her newfound appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. She highlighted that her cancer experience has strengthened her and made her reflect on life with gratitude. Now Kate is slowly resuming her royal duties prioritizing her recovery.
As she continues her recovery Kate has participated in a few events including attending ballet performances and supporting Team GB during the Olympics.
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