Duchess of Cambridge has written a book

[Viviennemary]

Kate has written a photography book which is to be released today. First I've heard of it. She has left copies round the country with a handwritten note. What a lovely idea. Its already Number one on the bestsellar list. All money to go to charity. Well done Kate.

Kate didn't take the pictures. It was part of a photography project that she ran last year with the National Portrait gallery. The photos are a real record of Covid times with all proceeds going to Mind and the Portrait gallery. I have pre-ordered it. It is nothing like Meghan's book which is why I am happy to buy it.

@JulietMadeChutney I agree, this particular photograph made me tears www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/images/this-is-what-broken-looks-like/

and this one is beautiful www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/images/biba-behind-glass/

It must have been a very difficult decision to choose the final 100 photographs.

I will order it too. A piece of history.

Honestly however much you like or dislike the RF and the Duchess of Cambridge I think it would be very hard to argue that this not a very valuable documentation of a cataclysmic year

Oh wow some of those photos are absolutely heartbreaking but wonderful at the same time.

Im another who will probably order the book to keep as a momento for my son to show him in future what happened in his first year. It really captures perfectly what people went through.

She hasn't written a book.

"Spearheaded by The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, Hold Still was an ambitious community project to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown."

It looks like a great book though, with proceeds going to charity.

"The net proceeds from the sale of the book will be equally split to support the work of the National Portrait Gallery and Mind, the mental health charity"

The 'Hold Still' publication date was announced some months ago, at the same time as the competition for inclusion in it.

The date isn't a coincidence, it's a long planned release that has been publicised for months

I’ve ordered the book

Sorry, got that a bit muddled - the competition was in the middle of last year, the exhibition in the autumn (and plans for book in spring publicised), exact publication date announced about 2 months ago and pre-orders began then

Those photos are lovely snapshots in the interesting moments and stories. Love it!

I do have to say the pictures I've seen of hers are very well taken she definitely has an eye for photography, her pictures of the kids are always very cute and have a family touch rather than feeling overly staged which can be quite off putting, considering she studied history of art im not surprised she has taken this route, I love that she has her own projects and am always intrigued by her next solo move, also think the fact they have set up YouTube is a very clever way of reaching the public.

She does seem a good photographer.

@GlencoraP

Honestly however much you like or dislike the RF and the Duchess of Cambridge I think it would be very hard to argue that this not a very valuable documentation of a cataclysmic year

Absolutely. Nothing will reflect the year better. The sense of some normality comes out very well too. Sitting in the garden. Homework. Work! It's a great collection of photos for this last year. I love the mother and daughter together, making masks or ppe on their sewing machines! This reminds of early in the pandemic when people were doing this locally.

If the date was released ages ago, it seems a little coincidental that MM announced her book the day before? I don’t dislike MM and I’m not knocking her, just surely she would know about Kate’s release date?

(I get that it’s not ‘Kate’s book’ but still)

Oh what a coincidence.

Aye. That her book is out first and MM nips in to plug her book the same week.

Aye. Coincidence!

I thought this would be really schmaltzy but the stories inside are beautiful. Very classy.

That's an amazing book and a very worthy cause. Why people would be unpleasant or snarky about it is baffling.

That man attending the virtual funeral, it's heartbreaking.

@Maireas

That's an amazing book and a very worthy cause. Why people would be unpleasant or snarky about it is baffling.

Maybe if the thread title hadn't been so misleading. So it seems kate hasn't written a book about photography. But ipart of an organised book of photos taken by the public. Totally different story to what the op said.

That's true, @Samcro. Although I sometimes wonder why it needs to get unpleasant (both sides).

I think this photographic record of the pandemic was a fabulous idea - congratulations to all involved, those creating and capturing the images, the NPG, the judges etc.

Images live with us in such a visceral way don't they. I loved Hold Still when it was announced and when the exhibition started there were selected billboards with photos on them - so moving.

Those photo's are fantastic!!

@HypocriteHunter

Oh what a coincidence.

Aye. That her book is out first and MM nips in to plug her book the same week.

Aye. Coincidence!

Indeed.

But try telling the Meghan sycophants that. KM could single handled cure AIDS and they'd accuse her of stealing the idea from MM.

Anyhoo, the book looks amazing, like a PP I'll be buying a copy as a keepsake for my DC later in life

This project has been widely lauded

I'm sure it has.

Good on them for highlighting Covid pics, but let's not pretend Katharine has taken all the pics. Well done for adding her name to this.

However, One of my DDs is actually a fab photographer, there is nothing she could do to get her pics published, she does try!

That her book is out first and MM nips in to plug her book the same week

That is a complete load of tosh. Is it OK if Meghan breathes air in the same week as W&K?