Liz Hatton’s Family Shares Request for Teen’s Birthday (Exclusive)

The family of the teen with cancer who was helped with her bucket list of dream photography assignments by Kate Middleton and Prince William has the perfect way of recalling her impact on a special day this month.

Liz Hatton’s family would like people to display her prized images to mark what would have been her 18th birthday on August 31.

Liz, who had been diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, desmoplastic small round cell tumor, captured the hearts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who heard of her desire to undertake exciting photographic assignments in the last months of her life. Hearing of her story, they invited her to take pictures of an investiture at Windsor Castle — and she and her family got to meet the royals in a surprise tea party afterward.

When she died in November 2024, William and Kate sent a special rose that is now planted in her family’s backyard in Harrogate, Yorkshire. It will flower every November around the anniversary of Liz’s death.

As the date of what would have been Liz’s 18th birthday approaches, her mother, Vicky Robayna, tells PEOPLE of their special idea. They’re inviting people from around the world to display Liz’s images wherever they see fit or share on their own social media.

“We just want as many people as possible to see her work,” Vicky tells PEOPLE. “If anyone would like one to put up prominently, we’re up to helping with that. People can also share them on their social media.

“We’re happy to send them a print, and we have some available to sell,” she adds. “Or a screenshot of her images. They can do whatever-sized print people want or need.”

Most of Liz’s photographs are on her Instagram, and Vicky promises there will be a new reel of photos for people to access on her birthday. “These are photos that she took that we are keen for people to share,” she adds. “It’ll be easy for people to find and share.”

The family is also releasing a calendar of Liz’s photographs on the day that will be for sale to aid the family-founded charity, Capture. “All proceeds go towards the research,” she says. Liz’s cancer was a rare sarcoma with little research or awareness. Since her death, Vicky and her husband, Aaron, started Capture, which is the world’s first charity dedicated to the disease. Since November, they have raised $205,000 via its fundraising page.

Aug. 31 will be an emotional day for the family. “We’re going to spend time with family and Liz’s friends and celebrate her birthday in the way that she would have wanted us to do so,” Vicky explains. “Though I’m sure there will be tears, she wouldn’t have wanted us to cry. But I think there will be a whole lot more memories being shared about Liz and her life, and hopefully, looking at her photos being shared.”

Since Princess Kate and Prince William met Liz and her family, the couple’s support has been ongoing. Vicky and her family were invited to Kate’s holiday carol service at Westminster Abbey in December 2024 and a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, when they were able to tell the royal couple how much they appreciated their support.

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When she died on Nov. 27, 2024, Kate and William issued a personal message on their social media: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Liz’s parents, Vicky and Aaron, and her brother, Mateo, at this unimaginably difficult time.”

They signed it “W & C” to show the message came personally from them, and they quietly sent the family a rose that will bloom each year around the anniversary of Liz’s death.

The royals’ backing has enabled Liz’s story to be heard around the world, something that is of great help to the family and to their ongoing efforts to raise money for more research into the little-known condition.

Throughout August, around 70 families, friends and well-wishers have been taking part in a fundraising effort called Marathon Your Way. The idea is that people can complete a marathon of 26 miles in any way they choose.

Liz’s younger brother, Mateo, 9, has been leading the way and is halfway through his second. (He’s been doing his by running, riding his scooter, swimming and even taking part in a three-legged race with a relative.) They’ve currently raised around $6,700. “He’s trying to see how many marathons he can do in August,” Vicky says with a smile.

“We’ve got a lady who is blind and is completing it with her guide dog,” she says. “We have the full span of age range and ability and completing in ways that work for them.”

“This is particularly apt for Liz. She didn’t have a favorite of anything and would think people should do it in a way that works for them. When she was poorly, the school did a fundraising day and said people could wear her favorite color. And she said, ‘I want everybody to wear their favorite color so they’re happy.’ ”

“So getting people to do it their way was an important part of the charity to open it up to participation as possible to take part. But also a way of reflecting Liz’s philosophy in life – she wanted people to do things in the ways they feel comfortable.”