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Duchess of Cambridge launches photography project to capture spirit of lockdown Britain

The Duchess of Cambridge is on the lookout for pictures documenting the best of Britain, from home schooling to the nursing front line

By Hannah Furness,

Royal Correspondent 7 May 2020 • 12:01am

The Duchess of Cambridge has called on Britain to capture photographs of life in lockdown, as she launches a project to document “resilience, bravery and kindness” during coronavirus.

The Duchess is working with the National Portrait Gallery to build a collection of pictures reflecting how the country is coping under Covid-19, from images of the nursing front line to the realities of home schooling.

Inviting submissions from members of the public, she will curate around 100 of the most insightful into an exhibition called Hold Still, intended to “capture the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the nation”.

Launching the project, the Duchess said: “We’ve all been struck by some of the incredible images we’ve seen which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people across the country.

“Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable.

One of the images which inspired the Hold Still project Credit: @ChrisPage90

“Hold Still aims to capture a portrait of the nation, the spirit of the nation, what everyone is going through at this time.

“Photographs reflecting resilience, bravery, kindness – all those things that people are experiencing.”

The Duchess, who is patron of the National Portrait Gallery and a keen amateur photographer herself, is said to have been particularly struck by photographs of grandparents seeing visiting grandchildren through their windows, and the bruised faces of nurses wearing PPE.

One of the images which inspired the Duchess was taken by Telegraph photographer Heathcliff O'Malley in April, showing a masked member of staff at London clothing company holding armfuls of scrubs manufactured quickly for the NHS.

Hold Still is intended to recognise all those staying in lockdown to keep the nation safe under three themes:  ‘Helpers and Heroes’; ‘Your New Normal’; and ‘Acts of Kindness’.

Jack Dodsley, 79, with a carer in PPE at Newfield Nursing Home, Sheffield Credit: SWNS

Open to all ages, the project will invite those taking part to write a short submission to go along with their pictures, outlining the emotions behind it.

The Duchess will speak about Hold Still via video on ITV’s This Morning today (thurs). Submissions for Hold Still can be made via www.npg.org.uk before June 18th.

One hundred shortlisted portraits, judged for their content rather than technical skill, will then feature in a digital exhibition, with plans for them to go on physical display in the future.

Workers at a fashion manufacturing site in north London making scrubs for the NHS Credit: Heathcliff O'Malley

Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, said: “Even if we are alone, we can all create something together. We are honoured to partner with The Duchess of Cambridge on the Hold Still project, which will provide an inclusive perspective on, and an important historical record of, these unprecedented times, expressed through the faces of the nation.

“The National Portrait Gallery reflects the history of Britain through the personal stories of the people who have helped to shape it. We are now inviting each and every person, across every city, town, village and home in the UK, to share their portraits with us in this unique collective endeavour.”

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Queen Mathilde of Belgium visited the Gerpinnes branch of the Carrefour supermarkets of Mestdagh groupe today. May 6, 2020.

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Queen Margrethe attended The ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of German occupation at the Ryvangen Memorial Park in Copenhagen yesterday. May 4, 2020.

📷 Det Danske Kongehus

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Then and today..

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark sent a message to the primetime community singing television programme Singing together – apart on 1 May 2020 to put focus on the subject of loneliness and anxiety during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

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The patron of Children, Youth and Grief and the National Centre for Grief, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark sent a message to the primetime community singing television programme Singing together – apart on 1 May 2020 to put focus on the subject of loneliness and anxiety during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attend the National Remembrance Ceremony at Dam Square in Amsterdam. May 4, 2020.

📷 Royal House of The Netherlands

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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima attend the National Remembrance Ceremony at Dam Square in Amsterdam. May 4, 2020.

📷 Patrick van Katwijk

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May 4th,2020: ‪Happy 11th birthday to Prince Henrik! ‬

(It looks like the 1st photo was taken earlier this week when they were spotter in Tonder. I think the second one was taken at Schackenborg Castle)

‪Photos: Princess Athena‬

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Not to be that person (well, that’s a lie, I love being that person):

The Perth Agreement happened in October 2011. It had nothing to do with Charlotte specifically, but the reality that William and Catherine might have a girl and then a boy.

It’s the same reason The Queen made those new letters patent while Catherine was pregnant with George.

You know how some "royals" talk about modernizing the royals and shit.. when Charlotte's whole existence brought the BRF out of centuries of male primogeniture..

like my baby girl did that 👐

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Happy 45th Birthday Nathalie Xenia Margrethe Benedikte! (b. 2 May 1975)

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02 MAY 2020 // The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken with midwives, health visitors, parents and leading sector experts about the challenges and impact that COVID-19 is having on new and expectant mothers and their families.

The Duchess’s conversations were held ahead of the UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week — which aims to create wider awareness of maternal mental health, and signposts support for parents.

In what she described as “a first,” Kate even joined a video call with a new mother and father in a maternity ward, congratulating the parents on their baby boy. “Very nice to meet you. This is definitely a first I think,” the Duchess said to parents Rebecca and John via a video call to Kingston Hospital in south west London. “Firstly, huge congratulations,” she told them, before describing their newborn son Max as “so sweet.”⁣⁣

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The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken with midwives, health visitors, parents and leading sector experts about the challenges and impact that COVID-19 is having on new and expectant mothers and their families.

The Duchess’s conversations were held ahead of the UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week — which aims to create wider awareness of maternal mental health, and signposts support for parents | May 2,2020.

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The Swedish royal family introduce a new edition to their family with their puppy Rio, a small cavapoo who has been residing with his new family at Haga Palace in Sweden.

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♕ HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY PRINCESS CHARLOTTE [b.May 2,2015]

— Kensington Palace released one more photo of Princess Charlotte to mark her fifth birthday and to thank everyone for all the lovely birthday whishes.

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