Each November, one rose grows in a small garden in Harrogate, Yorkshire – a pale, fragile, meaningful rose. To the Robayna-Hatton family, it is not just a flower.
It is a living memorial to Kate Middleton and Prince William to their daughter, Liz Hatton, a young photographer who died of cancer at the tender age of 17.
The rose, an Ice N Roses Early Rose, was a present of the Prince and Princess of Wales, whose lives intersected with that of Liz in the last chapter of her life. It has become an icon of kindness, bravery, and the silent yet strong connection between a teenage girl and two of the most well-known royals in Britain.
A Dreamer and a Lens and a List
Liz Hatton was not a typical teenager. Liz was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive abdominal cancer called desmoplastic small round cell tumor and she accepted her fate with breathtaking grace. Having few treatment options and not much research to rely on, she found solace and happiness in her hobby, photography.
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Liz, with the help of her parents, Vicky Robayna and Aaron Hatton, compiled a moving list of photography projects she wanted to accomplish before her clock ran out. Her tale, which her mother posted on social media in early 2024, started to resonate. Then something wonderful occurred.
A Royal Connection, A Day That Changed My Life
Liz was able to get her story to the royal couple through a contact at an air ambulance charity that Prince William supports. Moved to tears, they put Liz in line to shoot a royal event at Windsor Castle in October 2024, an honors ceremony where Prince William was giving awards to outstanding Britons.
Liz came with her family, camera in hand, heart full of hope. The day was even more memorable as Princess Kate, who was also receiving her own chemotherapy treatment at the time, made a surprise appearance. Kate hugged Liz, her younger brother Mateo, and their parents in a very emotional scene.
Vicky remembers that Liz always told her that they were two of the most sincere people she ever met. She was so fond of the way they treated Mateo. He is shy, but at the end they got him talking and laughing.”
To the Robayna-Hatton family, that day was not just a dream come true, but a day of love and humanity with people who, despite their popularity, were very caring about them.
It Felt Like Family
The generosity of the royal couple did not end with that one encounter. In December 2024, the family attended a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey hosted by Kate, and in May 2025, a garden party at Buckingham Palace, where they could thank the Prince and Princess of Wales in person.
Vicky said, it was like entering a long-lost family. It was as though you had arms around you in the worst moment of your life.
Princess Kate found time to keep in touch with Liz, even when she was going through her own cancer treatment, providing support and comfort to her family.
Grief to Action: The Founding of Capture
After the death of Liz in November 2024, Vicky and Aaron promised to preserve her legacy. They established Capture, the first charity in the world to focus on research and support of desmoplastic small round cell tumors.
The charity has already raised more than 163,000 since its launch, and donations and support have been pouring in, much of it due to the publicity that Liz and her story have received because of the royal connection.
Vicky says, without the support of the Princess, they would not have created as much awareness or raised as much money. Kate assisted Liz to bring her story to the world.
A Flowering Memorial of Love and Memory
Prince William and Princess Kate sent the rose that is currently growing in the family garden as a permanent reminder. It flowers in November, the month Liz died, a lovely, silent reminder that she is not forgotten.
To Vicky, the rose is not just a flower. It is a reminder of the strength of Liz, the power of storytelling, and the kindness of strangers-turned-supporters who made the last months of a teenage girl count.
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Vicky recalls, she simply came to life in front of the camera. She would sleep hours, but once she took her camera, she was energetic. She was fond of life–all life.”
The Strength of Kindness
The story of Liz still reaches people. Some of her photography, including some taken at Windsor Castle, is now included in a traveling exhibition on cancer awareness and youth resilience.
Her mother said that Liz wanted people to understand that despite being sick, one can still do incredible things. She wished people to understand how nice Kate had been to her. That was all.”
Liz did not just take pictures, she took hearts.
And by one blossoming rose the memory of her light and the mercy of two royals is preserved.