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.

It's a wonderful project, giving pleasure and comfort to people who submitted photos, and creating a historical record of an extraordinary time.

There are some lovely picture of the books being found around the country on Instagram. What a lovely touch.

Hope my link works.

https://instagram.com/stories/dukeandduchessofcambridge/2568312112662629535?utmsource=iggstoryitemmshare&igshid=phorg5c11awk

It will be a great momento of an extraordinary year.

I didn't mean to mislead people over the title of the post saying Kate was the author. She did compile it though. Sorry.

Bother. I think you have to sign in to Instagram to view that link. The phone call with Mila, one of the featured photographs, is in their YouTube channel and so sweet. What a tough time for her family. She looks so well now.

That phone call was just lovely.

@GlencoraP

She is actually a very competent photographer , she has studied it for some time from her teens she is an active patron of the National portrait Gallery and has a degree in Art History. This project has been widely lauded.

That sounds fascinating @GlencoraP Things like this that make you realise that the royal family can have a positive role in raising awareness. I was getting a bit cynical about it all.

I’m hoping even in the absence of a royal family in the constitutional sense, they can all still play a role in causes that matter to them.

It’s a lovely book and very emotional. I’ve ordered a copy and will keep for years to come to show my children/grandchildren. Even after this short time you do forgot what that initial lockdown was like - the isolation and the peering through window pictures get me every time.

I don’t know why there have been odd comments regarding the Duchess of Cambridge’s involvement. She is patron of the NPG so by being involved with, and promoting, this project she is filling her duties as that patron. She’s not claiming it’s a personal pet project of her own photography nor is she making any income from it - it’s all for the charity she is promoting. Her involved is quite literally her “doing her job” and, in my opinion, making a very good job of it!! She also isn't claiming credit for the fairy idea she gave credit to that when posting - no plagiarism by her.

@BottomOfTree Sounds like a great idea! I’m glad I read about it here. I think some intend to have Meghan and Kate in a perineal competition. I’m hoping that this can show that people can have more than one passion project and they can support one another without it being perceived as a game of oneupmanship.

Meghan and Kate in a perineal competition
I do hope autocorrect misunderstood the perennial problem of spelling! And that both their perineums are in excellent shape after their respective childbearing events.

Here's some of the pictures from Instagram of the places where the book has been found. Well done the Book Fairies. I'd never heard of them before.

@ShamedBySiri Yes autocorrect can sometimes be correct, but is often incorrect so your username is quite apt It was supposed to be “perennial”

On a completely different note, I do wish we could edit our posts

@ExitChasedByABee
Probably ought to be ShamedbyGoogle - I was apostrophe shamed for searching for mothers day and Google asked if I meant Mother's Day? 

Siri alas took exception to me swearing - someone had parked very close to my car and as I struggled to get in, clutching a handful of belongings including my phone, I swore and Siri responded "that's not very nice"!

I never even use Siri. But there she is listening and judging me....

I assure you I wasn't judging you for your spelling, merely somewhat taken with the idea of a perineal competition! 

It looks a lovely book. Kate wrote the introductory text. She did not take the photographs.
Personally, I think Kate's photos are pretty much the same standard as anyone I know who has an amateur interest in photography.

“Perineal competition” 😂. Autocorrect is a pain and yes an edit function would be fab. I’m not sure Mumsnet is yet in the 2020’s on this score.

Thanks for the heads up, i've just ordered a copy. As someone above said, we've been through a lot.

I hadn't heard of Book Fairies before either, and I think it's a lovely idea.

The release date, btw, marked 1 year since the start of the project

@LittleBearPad

It will be a great momento of an extraordinary year.

Indeed. I haven't seen the whole book but the pictures shown in the media have been really moving.

Love the book fairy thing too.

www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/
Just bumping this as the book is being sold for charity and has some great pics

@mummy194

You really really dislike Kate don't you? Have you met her or something? Seems personal.

[quote waltzingparrot]The book is the result of the Hold Still campaign which has been in the news for the last year. A photographic record of lockdown - long planned.

www.npg.org.uk/hold-still/[/quote]
Thanks for this link. Made me cry - very powerful photos.

Note how Samcro piled in (without even understanding what she was criticising) - same thing that upsets her when people do it about MM (who can write a book if she pleases and hasn't released her book - as not available till June - but the pr team have just issued comms for awareness the book is coming so not looking to compete with DoC's project)

It winds me up when either side does this - as indeed does the idea you have to be on one side to start with....

This book is a project with the National Portrait Gallery, DoC, and the British public, to bring together photographs which capture life during the pandemic. It was launched earlier last year with a call out for everyone to submit their photos, and has come to the point of the favourite photos being pulled together and published in a book.
It was well publicised at the outset.

@Viviennemary

I didn't mean to mislead people over the title of the post saying Kate was the author. She did compile it though. Sorry.

She was involved. She did not personally compile it though. Not knocking her contribution, but best not to over claim her involvement. The fact she has an art history degree is very well publicised. I am surprised some posters don't know that.

Now if that ain't a divisive post, I don't know what is!

And I can hold more than two opinions at once, i.e. I think the book is great. And I don't think MM is spawn of the devil, nor do I think the sun shines out of her.