Kate Middleton discusses the ‘Hold Still’ project

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The Duchess of Cambridge’s photography project, ‘Hold Still’, is set to be released as a book on May 7. Last year, Kate collaborated with her patronage, the National Portrait Gallery, to open a photography submission, asking Britons to capture a snapshot of the nation in coronavirus lockdown. One year on, the final 100 images that were specially chosen by the royal are to be published in ‘Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020’.

The Duchess has also penned an introduction for the collection.

She writes: “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.

“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.”

All net proceeds from the book will be split between two organisations backed by Kate: the National Portrait Gallery and the Mind mental health charity.

According to Kensington Palace, this will “help to support arts and mental health projects across the UK, including Mind’s work in local communities and the National Portrait Gallery’s education and community projects.”

Over 31,000 images were submitted to the project in May 2020.

The final 100 were selected for a digital exhibition by the National Portrait Gallery and the Duchess.

Kate Middleton’s ‘Hold Still’ project praised by experts

In October, billboards with the finalist photos were erected in 112 areas around the UK.

Many of which were in the hometowns of the photographers.

The upcoming book will contain the 100 images, plus the stories behind them.

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Additionally an overview of the ‘Hold Still’ exhibition process will be provided.

National Portrait Gallery Director Dr Nicholas Cullinan issued a statement: “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

“We are honoured to have been able to share a selection of these photographs with the nation, first through the online and community exhibition and now through this new publication.

“The proceeds raised from the book will help us to continue to care for and share our national Collection and to provide free access, inspiration and learning, through the work we do at the Gallery and our UK wide community and education projects.

Hold Still is an important record of this extraordinary moment in our history – expressed through the faces of the nation – and we hope will remain so for generations to come.”

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