Kate returns to royal duties as Princess of Wales meets young girl battling cancer in Windsor Castle

The Prince and Princess of Wales held a private meeting with a budding photographer today who is battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Princess Kate has surprised royal watchers today by sharing photos of a private meeting at Windsor Castle.

Kate, 42, and her husband the Prince of Wales met an aspiring teenage photographer with a rare and aggressive form of cancer after inviting her to take pictures at William’s Windsor Castle investiture.

The princess looked well in the two images shared by Kensington Palace on social media, wearing a maroon suit, smoky eye make up and her trademark brunette locks down.

The first image shows Kate hugging 16-year-old Liz Hatton, from Harrogate, after the royal couple met the youngster after the ceremony on Wednesday.

While the second is a group shot of the prince and princess with Liz and her family.

In a personal message on social media, William and Kate said: “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. W&C.”

Liz is trying to take part in as many photography experiences as possible and was invited to Windsor Castle today by William to take photos of recipients and learn about the different pictures that are taken throughout the day.

The heir to the throne found out about Liz through the London Air Ambulance Charity of which he is Patron of and held an engagement with on Monday alongside David Beckham.

Liz responded to the post on her own Instagram account, and wrote: “Such lovely, genuine and kind people, I’m over the moon that my family and I had this experience.”

While William’s role in the investiture ceremony has been recorded on the court circular – a record of royal engagements – the couple’s meeting with Liz and her family was not because it was private.

Kate has been seen only a handful of times this year after battling her own cancer diagnosis.

However, since revealing last month that she had completed her course of chemotherapy she has started to return to work, conducting two meetings at Windsor Castle.

The first was on her Early Years project and the second involved planning for her annual Christmas Carol service, which she hopes to attend in December.

Kate is also expected to attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph on November 10.

She held her first official meeting in more than nine months, where she hosted a chat with senior officials who work with Kate’s Early Years’ initiative.

The princess revealed she had completed her treatment last month, and admitted she hopes 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 has finished her chemotherapy treatment but is still on the road to recovery

Princess Kate announced in March that she had been diagnosed with cancerKensington PalaceRoyal fans were overjoyed at the new pictures of the Princess of Wales today.

One wrote: “It’s so lovely to see our Princess on public engagements again.”

A second commented: “It is beautiful to see The Prince and The Princess of Wales together in engagements again.”

A third added: “We wish her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales and Liz good health!”