Catherine shares powerful images of ‘bravery and kindness’ amid Covid-19

The Duchess of Cambridge is known for her love of photography and, as the world continues to fight against the spread of Covid-19, she has now teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery as part of a poignant new project that aims to showcase the strength, courage and love people have shown each other throughout the global health emergency.

Catherine helped to launch the community photography project – titled ‘Hold Still 2020’ – this week, and members of the public were asked to submit images that they believed perfectly captured the “spirit, hopes and fears” of this difficult period.

The digital exhibition will go live later this year and include 100 shortlisted portraits of beautiful and tragic moments that have been captured during the coronavirus outbreak. In the meantime though, the duchess showcased a handful of particularly powerful photographs which inspired the project.

Catherine handpicked a total of six photographs which were shared on the Kensington Palace Instagram account on Thursday, as she urged people to get involved and submit their own images.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5BLDhliPz/

From grandparents spending precious time with their grandchildren through the safety of a window and health workers connecting with elderly residents in care, to veteran Captain Tom Moore who raised more than £30 million for the NHS, the photos showed the true community spirit that has been displayed around the globe.

“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,” Catherine said in a statement published alongside the images. “Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable.

“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.”

Royal fans have been moved by the project, with many taking to social media to express their thoughts and feelings towards the heartwarming selection of images chosen by duchess.

“Beautiful and poignant images,” @fortheduchess wrote on Instagram. “I can’t wait to see all the others that are selected and shared.”

“This is a beautiful initiative,” @michelle.m.uys said. While @courtneysterbz added: “Beautiful and meaningful selections.”

Although the duchess and her family have been in self-isolation over the past few weeks, they haven’t stepped out of the public eye completely, with Catherine speaking candidly about some of the difficulties of homeschooling during an appearance on UK breakfast program This Morning on Thursday.

Speaking to presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, Catherine opened up about what it’s been like to conduct lessons for Prince George and Princess Charlotte at home. And the mother-of-three, who also has to keep two-year-old Prince Louis entertained whilst the family isolate at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall, revealed the very cute reason that the six-year-old prince is envious of his younger sister.

https://www.facebook.com/ThisMorning/videos/577316156238270/

“We’re stuck into homeschooling again,” Catherine said. “They’re unprecedented times really.” She added: “George gets very upset because he just wants to do all of Charlotte’s projects. Spider sandwiches are far cooler than doing literacy work!”

George and Charlotte, five, usually attend private school Thomas’s Battersea, in London, however the youngsters are currently unable to attend usual classes due to the UK’s strict lockdown measures. The princess joined the school in September last year.