Kate Middleton 'hit hard' by inspirational teen's cancer death at 'unimaginably difficult' time
This week saw the tragic death of Liz Hatton, a teenage photographer who inspired Kate Middleton, after pursuing a photography bucket list while facing a rare form of cancer, at the age of 17.
Liz began a photography bucket list appeal in January after being diagnosed with an aggressive desmoplastic small round cell tumour, where she was given between six month to three years to live. Liz and Catherine met just a month before her tragic death, as she was invited to Windsor Castle to take pictures of Prince William at an investiture. The couple described Liz as a "talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both".
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter after Liz's death, the couple wrote: "We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away. 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."
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Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK! That Liz’s death would have hit the Princess of Wales "hard." “As she says, it is an unimaginably difficult time for Liz’s family, especially so close to Christmas," Jennie said.
“Perhaps some small consolation will be that the Princess did manage to meet Liz and give her that very special hug,” she continued, speaking of their October meeting at Windsor Castle.
Catherine said it was an honour for her to have met Liz, as Jennie added: “And I believe Catherine absolutely when she says that it was an honour for her to have met Liz – when Liz, I’m sure, felt that it was the other way round. Obviously, I think every cancer story will resonate more deeply with Catherine now that she has her own experience of this dreadful disease.”
Kate Middleton underwent planned abdomen surgery in January 2024, which Kensington Palace announced was a ‘success’ the day after. However, two months later, the Princess of Wales shared in a video statement that after undergoing abdominal surgery, tests showed "cancer had been present."
"My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment," she said.
During the summer, the mother of three made appearances at Trooping The Colour and the Wimbledon Men’s Final in June. Three months later, the Princess revealed she had finished chemotherapy via a video from Kensington Palace and was focusing on “staying cancer free”.
"As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment," Kate said. "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown."
