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Kate Middleton Speaks Out with Extremely Rare Personal Message: ‘We Will Also Remember the Positives’

Kate Middleton just shared an inspiring personal message on Instagram.

Back in May of 2020, the Duchess of Cambridge launched an initiative in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The project, titled Hold Still, was an effort to "help capture the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the U.K." with photos taken by people across the United Kingdom. The campaign—which focused on the themes of Helpers and Heroes, Your New Normal and Acts of Kindness—ultimately received 31,598 submissions and 100 portraits were selected as finalists and featured in a digital exhibition. Now, it has been announced that the finalists will appear in a book published by the National Portrait Gallery, along with the stories behind each of them.

The exciting news was met with a touching note written by Middleton.

The Duchess of Cambridge posted on the @kensingtonroyal Instagram account, where she said, "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. 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."

She continued, "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. C."

The caption (which was personally written by Middleton, as indicated by the signed C), will act as a forward in her upcoming book, which will be titled Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020. The coffee table book will be released on May 7, exactly one year after the Duchess of Cambridge first launched the endeavor. In addition to its physical release, select photos from the publication will be displayed in public spaces across the U.K.

We can't wait to see Middleton's stirring project in print.

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calfee

Associate Editor, News and Entertainment

Joel is the former Associate Editor for News & Entertainment and has been reporting on all things pop culture for over 5 years. Before working at PureWow, he served as a Features Editor at ROCKET Magazine. When he's not dissecting the latest trends in entertainment (or guiding you on what to watch), he covers all the hottest red carpet looks and fashion movements. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him at an NYC concert, thrift store or LGBTQ+ bookstore happily perusing the shelves.