The Prince and Princess of Wales today met the parents of Liz Hatton, the teenage photographer who captured the hearts of the nation with her brave cancer fight.
Kate, 43, rewore her yellow dress by Emilia Wickstead and a hat by Phillip Treacy as she stood on the terrace for the National Anthem in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, while the Prince of Wales wore a smart top hat and three-piece suit.
It marks her first appearance at a garden party, which take place in the grounds of the royal residence in St James’s Park, since 2023 – having skipped last year while she was having cancer treatment.
Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron, along with her brother Mateo, 9, had an emotional chat at Buckingham Palace Garden Party to honour the memory of their daughter.
When Kate spotted Liz’s mother they embraced with a warm hug. Her parents said meeting Prince and Princess changed her and their family’s life positively forever.
The Prince and Princess, who were joined by Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie, Sophie and Edward and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, had met Liz just months before her passing, when they were introduced at Windsor Castle during an emotional moment that left a lasting impact on the royal couple.
Also at today’s garden party was Tony Hudgell, the double amputee from Kent who missed the King’s garden party earlier this month due to a traffic jam. This time, Tony made it in plenty of time and was warmly welcomed by Queen Camilla at a private gathering.
Liz, 17, from Harrogate, won admiration of the public with her determination to live life to the fullest despite being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.
The Prince and Princess of Wales today met the parents of Liz Hatton, the teenage photographer who captured the hearts of the nation with her brave cancer fight
The Prince and Princess of Wales receive Jellycat soft toys and meet the family of Liz Hatton, mother Vicky Robayna, father Aaron and brother Mateo
The royal couple spent a few minutes chatting to Vicky Robayna, and stepfather, Aaron Robayna Thompson, who were special guests at the party for 7,500 people.
The royal couple had met Liz in October 2024 at Windsor Castle, when the 17-year-old photographer, who had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, fulfilled her dream of photographing the Prince of Wales at an investiture as part of her ‘bucket list.’
Catherine, 43, whose cancer is now in remission, and William, were deeply moved by Liz’s story.
The Princess of Wales’s look today was a rewear of her ensemble from the Service of Thanksgiving for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Kate and William were handed Jelly Cat plush toys – a lemon pie and pickled onion. Liz used to give the toys to people that made her happy.
‘They match my dress,’ Kate said. She told Mateo, ‘If you need any help fundraising maybe I can help up.’
‘Please stay in touch, really.’
Liz Hatton, the teenager with cancer who met Kate at Windsor Castle earlier this year, will be celebrating Christmas with her family this weekend, her mother has revealed
The Princess of Wales oozed glamour as she arrived at a garden party at Buckingham Palace this afternoon alongside Prince William
Kate, 43, rewore her yellow dress by Emilia Wickstead and a hat by Phillip Treacy
Mum said, ‘You changed her life for the better, you changed ours too because our memories are all positive.’
William said of the toys , ‘My children will love these. They are children’s currency.’
Kate said: ‘It matches my dress, how did you know? We talked about it. When I see the fish and chips Jellycat, I think of her.
‘She really made the most of everything. I loved her creativity all the way through.
‘If you need any help fundraising, maybe I can help. Please stay in touch, really.’
The Princess had embraced Liz during their meeting, sharing a post afterward that read: ‘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.’
Tragically, Liz passed away just weeks later, leaving a lasting legacy of bravery and determination.
Following Liz’s death, William and Kate paid tribute to her, saying: ‘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.’
The family of Liz Hatton attending the Buckingham Palace garden party this afternoon
The Prince and Princess of Wales stand at the top of the Garden steps before the start of a Royal Garden Party
The royal couple were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (right)
Vicky and Aaron have since channeled their grief into creating Capture, a charity dedicated to supporting those with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour, the rare cancer that claimed Liz’s life.
The charity has funded its first research project and plans to launch its website by the end of May. They are also fundraising through events like a 24-hour swim and a marathon challenge for 100 teams. A photo calendar featuring Liz’s work will be released on what would have been her 18th birthday.
Also at today’s garden party was Tony Hudgell, the double amputee from Kent who missed the King’s garden party earlier this month due to a traffic jam. This time, Tony made it in plenty of time and was warmly welcomed by Queen Camilla at a private gathering.
Liz, 17, from Harrogate, won admiration of the public with her determination to live life to the fullest despite being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.
The Prince and Princess, who were joined by Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie, Sophie and Edward and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, had met Liz just months before her passing, when they were introduced at Windsor Castle during an emotional moment that left a lasting impact on the royal couple.
Liz’s dream of photographing the Prince of Wales at an investiture was fulfilled shortly before she died in November 2024.
The royal couple’s meeting with Liz’s parents today was a poignant reminder of her strength and spirit.
Kate spoke warmly of Liz’s courage, saying, ‘Her passion for photography and her bravery in the face of such challenges inspired us both deeply.’
The four royals appeared in bright spirits as they headed down the steps upon arrival
Following Liz’s passing, William and Kate had shared their condolences, writing: ‘We are so sorry to hear that Liz has passed away. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman. Our thoughts and prayers are with Vicky, Aaron, and Mateo during this unimaginably difficult time.’
Vicky and Aaron Hatton have since channelled their grief into creating Capture, a charity dedicated to those suffering from Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour, the rare cancer that took Liz’s life.
The charity has already funded its first research project and plans to launch its website by the end of May, with summer fundraising events including a 24-hour swim and a marathon challenge for 100 teams. A photo calendar featuring Liz’s work will be released on what would have been her 18th birthday.
In addition to meeting the Hatton family, Kate was also reunited with Holocaust survivor Steven Frank at a Holocaust Memorial Day event in 2025. When they met Kate said, ‘I feel like we are old friends now. Lovely to see you again.’
Their meeting brought full circle their previous connection, as the Princess had photographed Mr Frank in 2020 for her Generations:
Portraits of Holocaust Survivors exhibition, capturing powerful images that honoured those who lived through the atrocities of the Second World War.
The reunion was a deeply moving continuation of that bond, with the royal couple paying tribute to Mr Frank’s story and the enduring importance of remembrance.
Also present at today’s garden party was Tony Hudgell, the double amputee from Kent who missed the King’s garden party earlier this month due to traffic delays. William joked that he had chosen a better year because it was raining when he was due to come.
This time, Tony made it on time and was warmly welcomed by Prince William at a private gathering.
Other royals in attendance are the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, wearing a dress by Beulah and hat by Jane Taylor, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Although the King wasn’t present, the party in the palace grounds is still known as The King’s Garden Party and held on his behalf.
This year, as the Prince and Princess of Wales host special guests from around the nation, they are welcoming some very special guests to the grounds of Buckingham Palace – the family of Liz Hatton.
Prince William was dressed in smart attire as he joined his wife for her garden party return
Britain’s Kate, the Princess of Wales, speaks to guests as she attends The King’s Garden Party
Britain’s Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, arrive to attend The King’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London
Kate, 43, donned a yellow dress by Emilia Wickstead and a hat by Phillip Treacy as she stood on the terrace for the National Anthem
It was a family affair as they were joined by royals including Zara Tindall for the event
Typically, the royal family hosts four garden parties every summer; three at Buckingham Palace and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland.
Liz is an aspiring photographer and has been living out her wish list over the last few months. Pictured at the Venom premiere
Liz, pictured with her mother Vicky, stepfather Aaron and little brother Mateo in Disneyland
Like the prince and princess, the public were deeply moved by Liz’s strength, maturity and determination to face her tragically inevitable death head on. Liz and her family pictured with the Prince and Princess
They stem from a tradition of introducing debutantes into society – but evolved into a way of rewarding and recognising outstanding public service.
Among the figures invited to garden parties are nominated by state and local government departments, religious figures and official societies.
Each garden party – and there are normally around three or four held each year – see up to 8,000 specially-invited guests including community stalwarts, charity campaigners and military heroes invited to take tea and enjoy the palace gardens.
While the bands continue to play a selection of music, members of the Royal Family circulate among the guests through ‘lanes’.
Each takes a different route and random presentations are made so that everyone has an equal chance of speaking to a royal before they they arrive at the Royal Tea Tent, where they meet further guests.
They are then are then free to eat, drink and stroll around the beautiful Palace gardens.
Other notable guests include Steven Frank, a Holocaust survivor who The Princess photographed in 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust.
Their Royal Highnesses will also meet guests from a number of both their patronages, military affiliations and passion projects including; Homewards, Action for Children, Ty Hafan, and tenants across Duchy of Cornwall sites.
