HUG OF LOVE
‘You’ve inspired me’, Kate hugs girl, 16, with rare tumour in first appearance since revealing she’s finished chemo
Kate and William also lined up for a snap with the teenager and her family
PRINCESS Kate hailed a teenage cancer sufferer for inspiring her and husband William with her strength and creativity.
The Prince of Wales, 42, invited photographer Liz Hatton, 16, to take pictures of an investiture he was hosting at Windsor Castle for sporting heroes.
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Kate, 42, was seen warmly hugging Liz, who has a rare and aggressive form of cancer, while she and William also lined up for a snap with the teenager and her family.
They are the first photos of the Princess of Wales at work since she completed her own chemotherapy treatment.
The royals posted: "A pleasure to meet with Liz at Windsor today.
"A talented young photographer whose creativity and strength has inspired us both. Thank you for sharing your photos and story with us."
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They signed it off with a love heart emoji and their trademark "W & C".
Liz, who was joined by mum Vicky Robayna, step-dad Aaron and brother Mateo, replied: "Such lovely, genuine and kind people, I'm over the moon that my family and I had this experience."
She added: "It was my absolute pleasure to meet everyone and take photos today at Windsor, it was a great honour and was essentially a dream come true, so I truly hope to be part of any and all future events!"
The teenager, from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumour in January, and given between six months and three years to live.
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William learned about her via the London Air Ambulance Charity, which he is patron of.
Liz revealed it was "a dream come true" to take photographs yesterday of sports stars including cyclist Mark Cavendish and former footballer Ally McCoist.
Princess Kate's Heartwarming Return
The teen, who made a photography bucket list following her devastating diagnosis, said: "It was a great honour and was essentially a dream come true, so I truly hope to be a part of any and all future events! xx."
Kate, who dabbles in photography herself, told the nation she had cancer in March.
Last month she said in another video it was a "relief" her treatment had ended, saying: "The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family."
She also vowed to remain "side by side" with others fighting the disease.
Last week it was revealed she made a secret trip to the ballet in North London.
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She watched the two-hour matinee performance of English National Ballet's Giselle at Sadler's Wells theatre, in Angel.
Posting a photo on social media - which she did not take herself - she wrote a message and signed it off with 'C'.
Kate penned the heartwarming message to performers and directors of the English National Ballet on X, formerly Twitter.
The sweet message was posted on the official joint Twitter account for the Prince and Princess of Wales.
It read: "Congratulations and thank you to @ENBallet and @Sadlers_Wells for the wonderfully powerful, moving and inspiring performance of Akram Khan’s Giselle.
"Creativity at its best! C"
Kate returned to work at Windsor Castle just days after revealing she had completed her chemotherapy.
She held her first official meeting in more than nine months hosting a chat with early years charity chiefs.
The princess recently revealed she had completed her treatment and was set to appear at a handful of engagements before the end of the year.
The official Court Circular, which lists all royal engagements, read: "The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this afternoon held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle."
There were no photos of the meeting but it is understood she was joined by members of her household team and representatives from the The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
Kate launched the centre in June 2021 to drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years, in order to transform society for the future.
She had been kept up to date with the early years scheme while having cancer treatment.
In May, sources close to Kate said she was "excited" after being well enough to be briefed on the findings of a taskforce she set up to help the under 5s.
She had read a 60-page report on her early years project and said to have been "kept up-to-date" with the work which has been published, it was understood.
The Windsor Castle bash is the first meeting that has been noted in the Court Circular since her health scare, the palace said.
It is actually her first meeting listed on the register since December 6.
Timeline of Kate's health battle & recovery
JAN 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JAN 17: Kensington Palace announce the princess underwent surgery
JAN 18: William spends time at Kate's bedside
JAN 23: The princess' hospital stay passes one week
JAN 29: Kate leaves hospital
FEB 27: Prince William pulls out of service last-minute due to 'personal matter', sparking wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
MAR 4: Princess pictured in the car with mum Carole on the Windsor estate
Mar 10: Royal posts a sweet snap of her and the kids for Mother's Day – then fans started spotting flaws, and massive agencies put out 'kill notice' on photo
Mar 11: Kate admits she edited photo and is snapped in the car with William
Mar 16: Royal fans spot the princess at a farm shop near Windsor
Mar 17: Onlookers see Kate watching her youngsters playing sport
Mar 18: The Sun exclusively published a video of Kate and Wills from two days prior
MAR 22: Kate bravely reveals in an emotional video that she was given a shock cancer diagnosis
April 29: Kate and William mark 13th anniversary releasing unseen wedding photos
June 8: Kate does not attend Colonel's Review but letter she penned to Irish Guards reveals she said: "I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon"
June 14: Kate attended Trooping the Colour alongside her family
July 14: Kate attended the Wimbledon Men's Final with Princess Charlotte
September 9: Kate reveals she's finished chemotherapy with an intimate video showing family life
September 17: Princess returns to work at Windsor Castle hosting chat with early years charity chiefs
She spent 13 nights in the London Clinic for planned abdominal surgery.
And later revealed in a video statement that she was being treated for cancer.
She made her public comeback appearing at Trooping the Colour celebrations in London in June.
Then wowed crowds as she took centre stage in the Royal Box to watch the men's tennis finals at Wimbledon in July.
Kate has earmarked joining her family at Armistice Day in November where in previous years she has watched over the King and Prince William lay wreaths from the balcony of the Foreign Office building.
And is expected to have a role in her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey in December.
During an emotional video last week, Kate described her "relief" at finishing cancer treatment and said: "Staying cancer free is now my focus".
Meanwhile, Prince Harry landed in southern Africa for another trip without his wife Meghan Markle.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, had lunch with Princess Senate Seeiso of Lesotho, 23, and was pictured standing beside the young royal.
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He made a brief visit to the UK to hail a group of "little legends" honoured at an awards ceremony.
He paid tribute to the children and teenagers recognised at the WellChild Awards - who act as carers, fundraisers or just carry on with life as they cope with debilitating conditions.
A royal expert's analysis of Kate's first public appearence
The Sun spoke to Ingrid Seward, a royal expert, who shared her analysis of the Princess of Wales' first public appearence since completing her cancer.
Ingrid said: "There was a wonderful photograph of Kate hugging her so it was very poignant because they were both cancer sufferers, and you know Kate has now complete, completed her treatment.
"So it was a real nice thing to do, and I think it's a picture of hope for everyone that suffered from cancer."
She added: "I think that Kate really needed that sort of boost she'd be sitting at home, you know.
"Obviously she was doing some work, but she needed the stimulation of actually seeing people.
"Her whole life since she's been married to William has been about people and seeing people, and I think that it's probably given her a major boost to be out and about again, because she's been stuck at home for almost a year now, and obviously been in great pain and very worried, and not knowing what was going to happen to her.
"So this is. This is a really big moment for her."
The royal expert revealed that Kate's biggest takeaway from the event "is the bravery of these young people, especially this particular girl, Liz, who had this rare cancer".
Ingrid added: "I think that Kate was particularly struck by the bravery of this young girl and genuinely wanted to give her a hug.
"Kate must have felt an extra affinity with her, and also with all the other children.
"She's always been brilliant with children. She's a natural."
Ingrid claimed Kate's appearance has proven to be "amazing for the wider public".
The royal expert added: "People were genuinely worried. They were always asking what's happened to the Princess of Wales. When will she come back?
"And of course, and none of us really knew exactly what had happened to her, so it was a difficult one, and I think people are just delighted to see her back.
"I mean, she's not going to be back in the same capacity that she once was, but she gradually will do, and she's just taking it day by day and seeing how much energy she has, and I think that today will have been brilliant for her."
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King busts his moves for Samoa
THE King showed off his Samoan dance moves yesterday — ahead of his upcoming visit to the island state.
Ex-rugby ace Freddie Tuilagi, 53, stripped to the waist and got His Majesty in on the act at St James’s Palace.
The sports star later said: “We gave him a bit of a taste of Samoa. He said he loved it. He had good moves.”
The reception was ahead of a Commonwealth meeting in Samoa later this month.
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