Victoria Robayna says her daughter Liz Hatton was the ‘happiest that we have ever seen ’ in her final months
The mother of teenage photographer Liz Hatton, who met the Prince and Princess of Wales in October, has said their kindness played a part in ensuring her daughter was happier than ever in the two months before she died.
Victoria Robayna said her daughter “loved life until the end” as she spoke publicly for the first time since losing her daughter.
The 17-year-old photographer, who was invited to Windsor Castle to privately meet the Prince and Princess after photographing an investiture in October, spent the last few months of her life fulfilling her bucket list of dreams.
Liz, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, had been suffering with desmoplastic small round cell tumour, a rare and aggressive form of cancer with no standard path of treatment.
Ms Robayna told the Daily Mirror: “Liz was still independent and loving life until the very end, which is exactly how she would have chosen it to be.
“We could not have asked for it to have been a better way for Liz.
“All any parent wants is for their child’s dreams to come true, and the Prince and Princess of Wales were a big part in making that happen.
“Liz’s final two months with us were the happiest that we have ever seen her, and a lot of that was down to their kindness – we truly can’t thank them enough.
“Before that day at Windsor Castle Liz had had some opportunities, but the meeting really brought her into the public eye and allowed her dreams to become reality.”
Liz was an avid photographer and began her photography bucket list appeal in January after being given between six months and three years to live.
In the last months of her life, she fulfilled the majority of her list, including photographing a West End show, hosting a photo shoot of professional models, have her own photography exhibition and meet leaders in the field.
In a statement posted on social media and signed “W&C’ after she died, the Prince and Princess said: “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.”
Liz previously told The Telegraph of the inspiration behind her bucket list journey: “I want my siblings in particular to know that there’s always a bright side, you don’t have to sit and be miserable.
“Because I don’t want the people I love to sit and be miserable when I’m gone, I want them to look on the bright side and still be able to smile in darkness.”