LONDON — Getting a hug from Catherine, Princess of Wales wasn’t even on 16-year-old Liz Hutton’s bucket list. But the up-and-coming photographer, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier this year, not only received a touching hug from Princess Kate at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, but also from Catherine, who is recovering from her own cancer battle. He was praised for inspiring the Queen.
Kate announced just a few weeks ago that she finished chemotherapy This comes after doctors discovered cancer after abdominal surgery in January. That same month, doctors told Hutton she had an extremely rare cancer, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, and likely only had six months to three years to live.
After Ms Hutton experienced abdominal pain over Christmas, scans revealed she had tumors on her ovaries and liver. According to cancer charity Sarcoma UK, only a dozen people in the UK are diagnosed with aggressive cancer each year and there is no standard treatment.
In May, Hutton’s mother, Vicki Robaina, posted on social media a list of photos she wanted to have for her daughter.
“Every day we wish her a life that will last a lifetime, but even if we can’t achieve that, we hope to create memories for her that will last a lifetime,” Robaina wrote. “If I could make even one of her bucket list photos come true, she would be thrilled.”
Hutton’s list included major West End musicals, catwalk runways at London Fashion Week, prestigious music festivals and photo shoots with professional models. Although a photo session with the future British monarch was not included, Hutton’s mother said she would be happy to have “any other photo opportunities”.
Her mother concluded her post by saying, “Please help us give her the life she deserves in the time we have left.”
Duchess Kate, who is an avid amateur photographer herself, hired the teen to help document the private royal awards ceremony after her husband Prince William learned about Hutton through his support for London’s Air Ambulance charity. I invited Ajer. On Wednesday, Prince William and Duchess Kate welcomed Mr. Hutton to Windsor Castle for an event, after which they stood with Mr. Hutton and his family for more photos.
In a post on their shared social media account, the royal couple said: “We were delighted to meet Liz in Windsor today. She is a talented young photographer whose creativity and strength are an inspiration to us both.” said. “Thank you for sharing your photos and stories with us.”
Hutton replied: “Such lovely, honest, kind people. I’m so glad my family and I had this experience.”
“It’s a day none of us will ever forget. We are so grateful to everyone,” the mother added.
In June, Hutton’s mother told CBS News affiliate network BBC News that her daughter’s terminal diagnosis had “unexpectedly changed all of our lives.”
“We were touring the university a month ago. It all happened out of the blue,” Robaina said.
Hutton’s mother and father told their daughter to “just follow your heart” from now on, she said.
Since then, Hutton has received offers to film Wicked and Cabaret in London’s West End, as well as the Royal Marines, and has already had the chance to watch some of his favorite TV shows filmed.
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