This morning saw the release of a new photography book by the Duchess of Cambridge, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, collating pictures illustrating people's lives during the coronavirus pandemic over the past 12 months. There were some 31,000 entries, narrowed down to just 100, with a judging panel headed up by Kate. The book has already become a bestseller, despite only being on sale for a handful of hours.
To celebrate the launch, the Duchess kicked off a nationwide treasure hunt for copies of the tome with the Book Fairies organisation, leaving it in 'places that gave us hope during lockdowns'. Triumphant seekers will find a letter from the Duchess inside - with one copy known to be by Kensington Palace's gardens, as Kate was filmed hiding one there this morning - no doubt for her newly launched YouTube channel alongside the Duke.
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Later, she headed to the National Portrait Gallery to meet with director Nicholas Cullinan, as well as three of the photographers featured in the book, Lotti Sofia, Niaz Maleknia and Claudia Burton. The pictures will be shown in the gallery as part of its collection. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be split equally between the National Portrait Gallery and Mind, the mental health charity.
Rounding off a full day of engagements, Kate visited The Royal London Hospital, learning about its Arts & Health service, Vital Arts, and the works that they display on their wards.
Kate looked effortlessly stylish in a red Eponine coat, thought to be from the brand's 2018 collection. Perhaps taking her style cues from the Queen, she held a small handbag by DeMellier, with the hand-held style reminiscent of the Launer one always carried by Her Majesty. Her signature bouncy blow-dry was of course intact.
The Duchess is known for her love of photography, having taken multiple sweet photographs of her children, and is patron of the Royal Photographic Society. Her most recent photographs showed a six-year-old Princess Charlotte looking very grown up with long blonde hair and a pretty pink dress, and a three-year-old Prince Louis proudly brandishing his new bike, ahead of his start at Willcocks Nursery.
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