Holding her camera and smiling off-camera, Kate wears a maroon knit sweater and a white blouse with a ruffled collar, along with tiny gold hoop earrings and her famous sapphire engagement ring. The photo, taken by Matt Porteous, is included in new a coffee-table book of photographs that Duchess Kate helped choose for the ‘Hold Still’ project, which aimed to capture life under lockdown. Kate also penned an introduction for the book, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, writing: :When we look back at the COVID-19 pandemic in decades to come, we will think of the challenges we all faced—the loved ones we lost, the extended isolation from our families and friends and the strain placed on our key workers. “But we will also remember the positives: the incredible acts of kindness, the helpers and heroes who emerged from all walks of life, and how together we adapted to a new normal.” She said that her intention for the project was “to use the power of photography to create a lasting record of what we were all experiencing—to capture individuals’ stories and document significant moments for families and communities as we lived through the pandemic.” 100 final photographs were eventually selected from over 31,000 submissions. The duchess went on to say, “For me, the power of the images is in the poignant and personal stories that sit behind them. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to some of the photographers and sitters, to hear their stories first-hand—from moments of joy, love and community spirit, to deep sadness, pain, isolation and loss. “A common theme of those conversations was how lockdown reminded us about the importance of human connection and the huge value we place on the relationships we have with the people around us.” In an Instagram post, Kensington Palace said that profits from the book will be donated to Mind (a mental health charity) and the National Portrait Gallery (of which Kate is patron.) Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020is released in Britain on May 7. Next up, ‘Papa Is Missing You’: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis wrote sweet Mother’s Day cards to Princess Diana.
