Say Cheese! Kate Middleton Developed A Love For Photography Through A Family Member
Though Kate Middleton's kids and royal duties keep her very busy, whenever she has some downtime, there's a good chance you can find her behind the camera.
Kensington Palace's new exhibit, Life Through a Royal Lens, offers an inside look at the royal family's relationship with photography, and it also displays some of the Duchess of Cambridge's work, all of which picture one or more of her and Prince William's children: Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3.
While discussing the new exhibit, Claudia Acott Williams, a curator at Historic Royal Palaces, shared, "Her grandfather [Peter Middleton] was a very good photographer. When she was a child, he would show her his slides. It was him who taught her how to take photographs."
The mother-of-three has shared several photos over the years through her brood's official Instagram account, and last year she released a book of photography, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, which featured pictures of what the U.K. looked like during COVID-19 lockdown.
"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," she wrote in the foreword. "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," continued Kate. "I hope that the final 100 images showcase the experiences and emotions borne during this extraordinary moment in history, pay tribute to the awe-inspiring efforts of all who have worked to protect those around them, and provide a space for us to pause and reflect upon this unparalleled period."
Proceeds from the book went to the National Portrait Gallery and a mental health organization.
