Duchess of Cambridge’s New Photo Book Becomes Bestseller Within Hours of Release

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, visited the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Hospital of London to celebrate the release of her new book, Hold Still, a Portrait of Our Nation in 2020.

The book features 100 images selected by the Duchess from over 31,000 submissions that captured the portrait of the nation during the Covid-19 crisis.

Hold Still quickly became a bestseller on Amazon within hours of its release.

During her visit, Catherine met with photographers who contributed to the project while donning an elegant red coat.

The proceeds from sales of the book will be split equally between Mind Charity and National Portrait Gallery.

To promote the book, the Duchess joined forces with UK-based organisation, Book Fairies, to hide 150 copies of Hold Still in secret locations around the UK for the public to find in a treasure hunt.

Each copy is adorned with a gold Book Fairies sticker, gold ribbon, and has a letter from the Duchess tucked inside.

The Royal also visited the Royal London Hospital to learn how the Trust's vital arts organisation commissions art for hospitals to improve the patient and staff experience.

During her visit, Catherine spoke with a small group of hospital staff who shared their experiences of working throughout the pandemic.

The Duchess was shown examples of some photographs taken by staff from Barts Health NHS Trust to document this period in history.

She saw Joanna Churchill's framed picture entitled Melanie March 2020, an image of her fellow nurse wearing personal protective equipment and helping to prepare a Covid-19 clinic for patients.

The picture was recreated as a powerful mural in Manchester and is Hold Still's cover image.

Following her visit to the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Hospital of London, the Duchess gifted the framed portrait to the Royal London, where it will be displayed in the hospital's main corridor.

Catherine started a campaign during the first lockdown to ask the public to submit images that captured the portrait of the nation during the Covid-19 crisis.

The book features snaps taken during a six-week period during May and June last year, focusing on three main themes: helpers and heroes, your new normal, and acts of kindness.

Many of her followers praised the initiative, with one person commenting, “I am so proud of Catherine, what a beautiful project Kate, we are so proud that our Duchess is going to release a book with which profits will go to charities, always working for others and not for her own interest.”

The Duchess is a Royal Patron of the National Portrait Gallery and teased the release of Hold Still on May 6th with a short video sharing a peek inside, showing photos of NHS nurses in full blue scrubs, Captain Sir Tom Moore, rainbows drawn on pavements thanking the NHS, people hugging, and more.

Overall, the Duchess of Cambridge's new photo book, Hold Still, has become a bestseller within hours of its release.

Her campaign to capture the portrait of the nation during the Covid-19 crisis has been met with praise, and the proceeds from sales of the book will go to Mind Charity and National Portrait Gallery.

The Duchess' visit to the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Hospital of London showcased her commitment to promoting the arts and supporting frontline workers during the pandemic.