Duchess of Cambridge’s Photobook, Hold Still, Becomes Bestseller as She Visits National Portrait Gallery

The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine, made a visit to the National Portrait Gallery in London after her new photobook, Hold Still, became a bestseller within hours of its release.

On Friday morning, the Duchess stepped out in an elegant red coat to mark the occasion and also visited the Royal Hospital of London as part of her royal engagements.

Hold Still is a portrait book that captures the essence of the nation during the Covid-19 crisis in 2020.

During the first lockdown, the Duchess initiated a campaign urging the public to submit images that represented the country during this challenging time.

From over 31,000 submissions, she personally selected 100 images that have now been featured in her book.

The book, named Hold Still, was made available for purchase online and in stores on Friday morning.

By Friday afternoon, it had already become a bestseller on Amazon.

The proceeds from the sales of the book will be evenly divided between Mind Charity and the National Portrait Gallery, two organizations that hold significant importance to the Duchess.

Before embarking on her morning visits, Catherine shared footage from her outing in support of the Book Fairies, a UK-based organization that aims to share books by leaving them in various locations for people to discover.

In line with the release of her book, the Royal participated in hiding 150 copies of Hold Still in secret locations throughout the UK, turning it into a treasure hunt for the public.

In a video and photos shared on social media, the Duchess can be seen placing one of her books in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

She informed her 12.8 million followers that each copy of the book contains a letter tucked inside and is adorned with a gold Book Fairies sticker and ribbon.

To make this activity even more special, the Book Fairies, along with the Hold Still judges and participants of the final 100 images, are leaving copies of the book at places that brought them hope during the lockdown.

Hold Still, a unique collection of photographs, is now available for purchase in UK bookshops and online.

Catherine, who serves as a Royal Patron of the National Portrait Gallery, had teased the release of the book on May 6th with a short video.

The video showcased photos of NHS nurses in blue scrubs, Captain Sir Tom Moore, rainbows drawn on pavements to thank the NHS, and acts of kindness, all taken during a six-week period in May and June of last year.

The initiative received praise from many of her followers, with one person expressing their excitement and pride in Catherine’s beautiful project.

Another commenter commended her for always working for others and not for personal gain.

The Duchess’s visit to the National Portrait Gallery was followed by a visit to the Royal London Hospital, where she learned about the Trust’s arts organization that commissions art for hospitals to enhance the experience of patients and staff.

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

She also had the opportunity to view photographs taken by staff from Bart’s Health NHS Trust, documenting this historic period.

Among the images, she saw Joanna Churchill’s framed picture titled “Melanie March 2020,” which depicts a fellow nurse wearing personal protective equipment while preparing a Covid-19 clinic for patients.

This powerful image was recreated as a mural in Manchester and serves as the cover image for Hold Still.

As a gesture of appreciation, the Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery presented the framed portrait to the Royal London Hospital, where it will be displayed in the main corridor.

The hospital played a crucial role in caring for Covid patients, including 150 individuals who required critical care, more than double the number treated during the first wave in January.

In conclusion, the Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to the National Portrait Gallery and the release of her photobook, Hold Still, have garnered significant attention.

Her campaign to capture the nation’s portrait during the Covid crisis has resulted in a best-selling book, with proceeds benefiting important charities.