A party not a funeral: Remembering the teenage photographer who inspired a princess

ITV News' Chris Ship meets Liz Hatton's family in Harrogate as they celebrate the life and achievements of the young photographer who died last month after being diagnosed with cancer.

Liz Hatton's family had been planning an early Christmas as they knew her time was short but in the end, their plans didn’t happen.

They lost their beloved daughter and their big sister at the end of last month after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. She was just 17.

Liz was a teenager who loved photography and wanted to photograph as much as she could in as many interesting places as she could with the limited time she had left.

Despite everything they have faced this year, Liz’s family, who gathered in Harrogate today, were certain about one thing: it was not a funeral, it was a party.

Mum, Vicky, Dad, Aaron and little brother, Mateo, wanted to use the party to celebrate Liz’s short but remarkable life.

Fifty photos taken by the young photographers were exhibited in the ballroom of the Harrogate hotel, where anyone was welcome.

Vicky Robayna, her devoted mum, wanted to show the world what a talent her daughter had.

Her school closed early today, so her friends and teachers could make the party where guests ate Liz’s favourite snacks: lemon drizzle cake and salt n’ vinegar Discos.

Following her cancer diagnosis in January, Liz made a photography 'wish list' she wanted to complete before she died which is how she found herself in Windsor Castle where she got a big hug from another keen photographer, the Princess of Wales.

Having heard about Liz's story, William and Kate offered Liz and her camera a spot at an investiture ceremony, which the Prince of Wales was holding in the castle that day,

After the event, she had some time to chat to both William and Kate.

The Princess has been on her own cancer journey this year, during which she has undertaken a course of chemotherapy.

Liz also got to photograph the Royal Variety Show, walk on the red carpet, to go to the studio of the photographer Rankin and meet the LA portrait photographer David Suh.

In the words of her mum, Liz “flew high until the end”.

Her family are now focused on raising funds to help others who, like Liz, are affected by the same rare cancer she had.

Desmoplastic small cell round tumour, to give the cancer its full name, is diagnosed in only 12 people each year.

But the shocking statistic each of them faces, is that only 15% of patients will survive beyond five years.

In Liz’s case, she had just ten months.

It's why her mum is determined to raise £100,000 to set up a charity and fund research into this particular disease.

By sharing her daughter’s photographs and talking about the memories she made, her dad Aaron, Vicky and little Mateo, are urging people to donate to the fund in Liz’s memory.

So far, £40,000 has been donated to Liz Hatton's Just Giving page as they are well on their way to their target.

Liz’s family doesn’t know how they will get through Christmas and where to spend it without their daughter.

But her mum told us today that Liz would be fuming if they didn’t make it fun and exciting for her little brother Mateo, who Liz just adored.

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