The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton is known to be an avid photographer. And now, the British royal has taken her passion one step ahead by launching a photo book called ‘Hold Still: A Portrait Of Our Nation In 2020.’
The book, which has been launched in collaboration with Britain’s National Portrait Gallery, contains 100 portraits of key workers and people isolated from family and friends due to the lockdowns imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The pictures in the book were collated out of 31,000 submissions that were received after people of all ages from across the UK were invited to submit a portrait they had taken during the first lockdown. Earlier, the selected pictures were also shown in digital and community exhibitions.
Kate Middleton has written the introduction for the book herself.
“Through Hold Still, I wanted 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,” she said.
“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,” she added.
The director of The National Portrait Gallery, Dr Nicholas Cullinan, said in a statement shared with BAZAAR.com, “The public response to Hold Still, which was spearheaded by our Patron, Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, has been phenomenal. The photographs submitted have helped to create a unifying and cathartic portrait of life in lockdown.”
The publication of the book follows the anniversary of the first national coronavirus lockdown that was observed in Britain on 23 March.
The money raised from the book will be donated to various charitable organizations and programs.
The photo book will be available from bookshops and online from 7th May this year and can be pre-ordered through the National Portrait Gallery.
