The hug that says ‘I’m with you’: Kate Middleton embraces young cancer-stricken photographer at Windsor Castle in poignant first pictured engagement

The Princess of Wales hugged a young fellow cancer patient after being invited to Windsor Castle to take photos of Prince William.

In a moving encounter, keen photographer Liz Hatton, 16, who is battling a rare and aggressive tumour, was asked by the future king to join him at an investiture he was holding to capture participants including Mark Cavendish, Waynes Barnes and Alistair McCoist.

Liz, from Harrogate in Yorkshire, tries to take part in as many photography experiences as possible and received William’s personal invitation after hearing about her through the London Air Ambulance Charity of which he is a patron.

While that experience would have been special enough, Liz was also invited along with her family to meet with William and Kate privately to hear about her day and cancer journey.

During the emotional meeting, the princess – who announced last month that she had completed her own preventive chemotherapy treatment – threw her arms around the teenager.

The prince and princess later posted photos of the moment on their social media channels, along with the message: ‘A pleasure to meet Liz in Windsor today. A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength have inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us [heart emoji] Toilet.’

Liz later wrote online: ‘What lovely, genuine and friendly people. I am ecstatic that my family had this experience.”

The teen was accompanied by her mother, Vicky Robayna, stepfather, Aaron and brother Mateo.

The teenager was also happy that some of her photos were also posted on their social media channels by Kensington Palace, which has millions of followers.

A royal spokesperson said: ‘The Prince heard about Liz through the London Air Ambulance Charity of which he is a patron, and following the investiture both the Prince and Princess of Wales met Liz privately with her family to hear about her day and journey.’

Liz was diagnosed with a desmoplastic small round cell tumor in January and has created a photography ‘bucket list’.

Her mother said doctors have told her daughter she has six months to three years to live.

She received the devastating diagnosis two days after visiting a GP with stomach pains over the Christmas holidays. After scans, doctors discovered she had tumors on both her ovaries and liver.

She told the BBC earlier this year: ‘It’s just been a bit of a change from normality, is the easiest way to put it.

‘I used to be very focused on school work. Now I have completely stopped all school work. If I only have about three years to live, what’s the point of doing A-levels.’

On average, only 12 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in England and it is so rare that there is no standard treatment.

Funds are currently being raised so that Liz can seek the help of a US-based expert.

Liz was advised to ‘follow her heart’ and is now pursuing a wish list of photography experiences surrounding her own chemotherapy treatment.

She has depicted the military, West End shows and television shows.

She started photography in year 6 after saving up for her first camera.

The princess’s poignant first photos of her carrying out royal duties are another sign that she is prioritizing issues that matter to her as she continues her recovery from cancer.

Among the things the royal mother of three has continued to cherish during her recovery are her faith, her early work and ballet.

Last week, Kate – a noted fan of the ballet – appeared to be in the audience at a performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle at the Sadler’s Wells theater in London.

The royal mother of three took to X to share a photo from the performance, writing: ‘Congratulations and thank you to [English National Ballet] And [Sadler’s Wells’ for the wonderfully powerful, moving and inspiring performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle. Creativity at its best!’

The Princess, who recently remarked that her health struggles have ‘above all reminded William and her to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted’, has long enjoyed dance performances.

She has been spotted in the audience at performances such as The Nutcracker over the years; both alone and with her daughter.

After the Princess was spotted at Crathie Kirk Church in Balmoral last weekend, the Mail revealed she and Prince William enjoyed a child-free getaway to the Royal Family’s estate in Scotland while Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis remained in Berkshire.

This brief appearance came less than a week after the Princess of Wales hosted her first work meeting in over nine months, which marked the start of her slow and measured return to public duties.

Last Tuesday, the royal held a meeting at Windsor Castle with those involved in her ‘Early Years’ project, which delves into the crucial role the first few years of a person’s life plays in the adults they become.

Earlier this month, the future Queen revealed she has completed chemotherapy and is now ‘focused on staying cancer-free’ as she released a touching new video of William and their three children.

In the family video, the Princess told viewers that her cancer experience has taught her to appreciate the ‘simple yet important things in life […] of simply loving and being loved’.

The royal then briefly outlined her plan to return to royal duties, acknowledging that she does not want to rush back into matters.

She continued, “Although I have completed chemotherapy, my road to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.

“However, I am looking forward to returning to work in the coming months and, when I can, making a few more public engagements.

Before that, Kate made a fleeting appearance in an Instagram video to congratulate Team GB on their Olympic efforts, which was posted on their official page.

In the short clip, Kate said: “From all of us watching at home, congratulations Team GB.”

The Prince of Wales, wearing an official blue Team GB top, shortly added: “Well done Team GB, you have been an inspiration to us all.”

Just weeks after King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer, his daughter-in-law revealed in an emotional message in March that she was also being treated for the disease.

Since then, the mother of three has only been seen in public a handful of times, including Trooping the Color and the men’s singles final at Wimbledon.

Before her appearance at Trooping the Color in June, the royal released a statement saying she hoped to attend an occasional engagement this summer, but urged the public to be patient with her as she , like many cancer patients, has ‘good days and bad days’.

After spending much of a year coming to terms with the diagnosis and undergoing ongoing chemotherapy, Kate relaxed as she smiled and waved to the delighted crowd – making a triumphant return to public life in a carriage procession for the Trooping the Color ceremony.

Ahead of the men’s singles final at Wimbledon in July, officials remained ‘hopeful’ that Kate would feel well enough to hand out trophies.

Fortunately, their hopes proved justified and in her role as patron of the All England Club, where the annual tournament is held, the royal family presented Alcaraz with the championship trophy after the Wimbledon men’s final.

After leaving the court following the trophy presentation, the princess and Alcaraz had a conversation in a room in the tournament’s main stadium. “You played so well,” Kate told him. ‘Enjoy the victory.’

Earlier, Kate went from the stands to the playing field to present the trophies, and shook hands with some of the ball kids working at the tournament.

Although future public engagements have yet to be announced, the princess reportedly hopes to attend the Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph.