The Prince and Princess of Wales meeting young photographer Liz Hatton(Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)

Teen hugged by Kate Middleton opens up about passion that 'distracted' her from 'constant pain'

Liz Hatton, 16, has just weeks to live but wants as many people as possible to see her pictures. This week she was invited by Prince William to take pictures of an investiture he was holding at Windsor Castle

by · The Mirror

The teen with terminal cancer who was given a special hug from the Princess of Wales has shared her favourite photos with The Mirror.

Budding photographer Liz Hatton, 16, has just weeks to live but wants as many people as possible to see her pictures. This week she was invited by Prince William to take pictures of an investiture he was holding at Windsor Castle after the royal was told about her photographic bucket list.

But her family were “bowled over” when her invite led to a surprise private audience with William and Kate. The schoolgirl from Harrogate, Yorkshire, who is battling a rare and aggressive form of the disease, told how photography has helped her through her cancer ordeal.

“When everyone was prepping for Charles Jeffrey’s show at fashion week, I like it because it feels as though you’re seeing the space through the eyes of the model in front. It also highlights the contrast between the old, grey architecture and the colourful boldness of Charles Jeffrey’s designs.”
“First look at the same show. I wanted to capture as much of the outfits as possible while still being zoomed in enough to see the emotion on each of their faces. Like it because I achieved my aims and the image captures the movement of the model as they came out and began their walk.”

And she reveals how it has helped distract her from “the constant pain” she is in. “I’ve always loved photography because it’s a way to immortalise a moment for everyone to see,” she told The Mirror.

“I’m particularly fascinated by the emotions that a photograph can portray, or make a viewer feel, as I think it’s almost magical that it can do that.”

Liz said she was about nine or ten when she saved up hundreds of pounds to buy her first proper camera after playing around on a Kiddizoom camera.

"We were exploring viewpoints. I was trying to encapsulate an urban atmosphere to create a grunge-like feel. It’s taken in a little alley in Harrogate. I took this on my old camera, a Canon 250D with a 50mm portrait lens."
"When speaking to my friend about what things we could do a photo shoot on about her life and experiences, I asked her how would you like to be seen or how she would like to be in the future and she replied that she ‘wanted to not worry so much and have more confidence to be herself’. To make this into a shoot I interpreted this as being nonchalant and from there we based the setting, poses and clothing around this."

“Another reason I especially like photography is the way that you can make each image or shoot entirely different to the last, meaning I’m never stuck doing the same old boring things over and over again,” she said.

"This was also taken as part of my preliminary A Level coursework, where we were experimenting with colour. Throughout the shoot I used a range of different colours but I particularly liked this one because it gives the illusion that the mirror is actually water."

“The spontaneity that photography allows me is incredibly important as I don’t want to spend what little time I have left stuck being repeatedly bored. Instead, I can photograph a fashion show one day then my brother’s sports’ day the next.

"Saxon-Bryn Arthur Morrison, who died aged 11 months and two days, after being diagnosed with leukaemia. He underwent chemotherapy at the hospital where Liz also received treatment."

“This way, I can pick up my camera and focus on new and exciting shoots which helps to distract me from the constant pain that I feel every second of every day, and the rest of the world doesn’t seem to matter as much.”