The Duchess of Cambridge has teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery once again for the publication of a commemorative ‘Hold Still’ book a year on from the launch of the successful, community-based portrait exhibition.
Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 will be on sale in the United Kingdom beginning 7 May, a year after Kate first announced the photography project. It will contain the final 100 images chosen.
The Duchess penned the introduction: “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.”
The book will contain the stories behind the 100 final images, as well as an overview of the ‘Hold Still’ exhibition process, which saw rotating billboards and outdoor posters in 80 towns all over the UK in October 2020.
All net proceeds from the book will be split between two organisations backed by Kate: Mind, a mental health charity, and the National Portrait Gallery, which 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,” according to Kensington Palace.
When the Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery announced ‘Hold Still’ last year, over 31,000 images were submitted by people across the UK.
“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,” said National Portrait Gallery Director Dr Nicholas Cullinan in a statement.
“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.”
Paul Farmer, the Chief Executive of Mind, said, “The coronavirus pandemic is a mental health emergency as well as a physical one. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown, and any recession that lies ahead means there has never been a more crucial time to prioritise our mental health.
“This inspiring collection of portraits illustrates the impact of the pandemic in all its complexity, but also how creativity, art and human connection can help us find meaning in unprecedented challenges. Thank you to everyone who submitted a portrait to tell such a moving and deeply human story of the pandemic. And to the National Portrait Gallery and The Duchess of Cambridge for choosing Mind as a joint beneficiary of proceeds from the sales of this book.”
With the announcement, a new picture of The Duchess of Cambridge was also released. The Duchess herself is a keen photographer. Every year we see many of her shots marking the birthdays and other big days of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis of Cambridge. In the picture, we can see the Duchess of Cambridge, who is also a patron of The Royal Photographic Society, holding a camera.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s picture was taken by Matt Porteous at the family’s country home Anmer Hall in Autumn 2020 and is part of the same set from which the family’s Christmas 2020 picture was released.
In the picture, The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing her Sézane ‘Marguerite’ White Ruffle Blouse that she debuted in June 2019 during Cumbria’s visit. The blouse featured distinctive ladder-stitch details at the collar and wrists.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Marguerite blouse features a pie crust collar and a distinctive ladder-stitch detail that runs down the front of the blouse and along the cuffs.
The Duchess paired the blouse with her Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier Large Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch. She has the watch in her wardrobe since 2014. It is believed to be a wedding anniversary gift from Prince William. Coming from the label’s Ballon Bleu de Cartier Collection the watch features distinctive stainless steel design with blue hands and large Roman numeral dial. The watch is retailing for $6,550.
Cartier described the watch as, “Floating like a balloon and as blue as the sapphire safely nestled in its side, the Ballon Bleu watch by Cartier adds a dash of elegance to male and female wrists alike. Roman numerals are guided on their path by a sapphire cabochon winding mechanism protected by an arc of precious metal. With the convex curves of the case, guilloché dial, sword-shaped hands, and polished or satin-finish links of the bracelet… the Ballon Bleu watch by Cartier floats through the world of Cartier watchmaking.”
The Duchess teamed up her look with her Daniella Draper Gold Diamond Mini Cupid Hoops.
The earrings debuted in Ireland in March 2020.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe £120 earrings are described as, “These solid Sterling Silver Mini Cupid Hoop earrings with Baby Shamrock charms are a definite must have. The Shamrock leaves stand for faith, hope and love, making this piece a perfect lucky addition to your collection. These charm hoops are the perfect finishing touch for any occasion.”
The earrings are available in both silver and gold.
The earrings also came as the £200 Hoops only in both gold and silver – called Gold Mini Cupid Hoops.
The Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing the hoops only many times since debuting the pair. The label also offers many other charms to go with the hoops.
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