The Princess of Wales surprised guests by attending her first Buckingham Palace garden party in two years after missing out on last year’s events as she underwent cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales had an emotional reunion today with the family of Liz Hatton, the teenage photographer who captured the hearts of the nation with her brave cancer fight. Liz’s mum Vicky and stepfather Aaron, along with her brother Mateo, nine, had an heartfelt chat with the future king and queen who heralded the bravery of the late teenager.

At a Buckingham Palace garden party this afternoon for 7,500 community stalwarts, the royal couple spent a few minutes chatting to Vicky Robayna, and stepfather, Aaron Robayna Thompson, who were special guests at the event. When the princess spotted Vicky in the crowd she approached her for a warm hug.

William and Kate receive gifts from the family of Liz Hatton at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party today ( 

During their chat with the prince and princess, Liz’s parents said the royal couple had had a huge impact on their daughter’s short life, and changed their lives “positively forever”.

William and Kate had met Liz in October 2024 at Windsor Castle, when the 17-year-old photographer, who had been diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, fulfilled her dream of photographing the Prince of Wales at an investiture as part of her “bucket list””

As part of her bucket list, Liz went on to photograph comedian Michael McIntyre, circus performers, the Royal Ballet, models from the Storm Model Agency, London Air Ambulances from a helipad, hotel doormen, the red carpet at the MTV Europe Music Awards, and joined acclaimed British photographer Rankin to lead a fashion shoot.

Kate chats to Liz’s mum, stepdad and brother ( 
Image:
PA)
The princess, 43, whose cancer is now in remission, and William, 42, said they had been deeply moved by Liz’s story. At the sun soaked garden party in the Buckingham Palace garden, William and Kate were delighted to be handed a lemon pie and pickled onion jelly cat toys by Liz’s brother, in memory of his sister who used to give them to people that made her happy.

Kate, dressed in a butter yellow Emilia Wickstead dress and hat by Philip Treacy she last wore to the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, said: “They match my dress, how did you know? I remember, we talked about Jellycats. When I see the fish and chips Jellycat, I think of her. She really made the most of everything. I loved her creativity all the way through.”

The princess also made a kind gesture to the family, volunteering to be involved in any future fundraising. She told Liz’s brother Mateo: “If you need any help fundraising maybe I can help! Please stay in touch, really.” William added: “My children will love these. They are children’s currency.”

Liz’s mum Vicky, told the couple: “You changed her life for the better, you changed ours too because our memories are all positive.” Liz, 17, from Harrogate, won admiration of the public with her determination to live life to the fullest despite being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

Kate hugs Liz Hatton during a meeting at Windsor Castle last year ( 
Image:
Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
Following Liz’s death, William and Kate paid tribute to her, saying: “We are so sorry to hear that Liz Hatton has sadly passed away. It was an honour to have met such a brave and humble young woman. Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents Vicky and Aaron, and her brother Mateo, at this unimaginably difficult time.”

Vicky and Aaron have since channeled their grief into creating Capture, a charity dedicated to supporting those with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumour, the rare cancer that claimed Liz’s life.

The charity has funded its first research project and plans to launch its website by the end of May. They are also fundraising through events like a 24-hour swim and a marathon challenge for 100 teams. A photo calendar featuring Liz’s work will be released on what would have been her 18th birthday.

William and Kate were joined at the garden party by Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. One other special guest at the party was brave Tony Hudgell, the double amputee from Kent who missed a previous garden party with the King due to a traffic jam.

In addition to meeting the Hatton family, Kate was also reunited with Holocaust survivor Steven Frank at a Holocaust Memorial Day event in 2025. Greeting him warmly, she said: “I feel like we are old friends now. Lovely to see you again.”

Their meeting brought full circle their previous connection, as the princess had photographed Mr Frank in 2020 for her Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors exhibition, capturing powerful images that honoured those who lived through the atrocities of the Second World War.

Garden parties have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s when Queen Victoria began what were known as “breakfasts”, although they took place in the afternoon.

William and Kate stand for the National Anthem alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh ( 
Image:
PA)
Guests queue in tea tents and take their seats on nearby chairs, and around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed at each party.

Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in their red and gold ceremonial costumes, form part of the proceedings, and people are free to stroll around the vast expanse of the gardens while a military band plays background music.

William’s and Kate’s outing today comes as they were named by Time Magazine in their Top 100 Philanthropy Awards. The respected publication hailed William and Kate as philanthropic innovators for “modernising royal philanthropy”.