Kate Middleton shares a glimpse of the book Hold Still

The Duchess of Cambridge has shared a glimpse of her photography book Hold Still ahead of its release on Friday.

Kate, 39, a keen photographer, launched the campaign during the first lockdown last year and asked the public to submit their images which captured the period. 

From over 31,000 images, 100 final ‘poignant and personal’ portraits were selected and shown in a digital exhibition before being collated into the book, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020.

The book, created in partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, will be available in UK bookshops and online from May 7, one year on since the project was first launched.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who announced earlier today they’d be starting their own YouTube channel, shared a video which flicked through the pages of the book to their Instagram, with the caption: ‘Coming this Friday #HoldStill2020’.

It comes just a day after Meghan Markle, 39, announced she would be publishing her first ever children’s book, The Bench, which is inspired by Prince Harry and their son Archie, on June 8.

The Duchess of Cambridge has shared a glimpse of her photography book Hold Still (pictured) ahead of its release on Friday

Kate (pictured), a keen amateur photographer, wrote the introduction to the book, which showcases pictures from her Hold Still campaign of 2020

Kate (pictured), a keen amateur photographer, wrote the introduction to the book, which showcases pictures from her Hold Still campaign of 2020

The Duchess announced the Hold Still book would be going out on Friday (pictured). Proceeds will go to Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

The Duchess announced the Hold Still book would be going out on Friday (pictured). Proceeds will go to Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

The fast-paced video shared by the Cambridges on Instagram showed the different pages of the Hold Still book, and some of the 100 portraits that were selected out of 31,000 initially sent to Kate for the project.

Excited royal fans praised the Duchess’s work, as some said she was ‘smashing it’. ‘Wonderful. I love the way this woman goes about her business,’ one said.

‘This was such a fantastic project! Congratulations to the Duchess of Cambridge for this awesome initiative,’ another said. 

The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her. 

The cover of Hold Still immortalises a NHS worker wearing PPE, frowning at the camera in a moving portrait, pictured

The cover of Hold Still immortalises a NHS worker wearing PPE, frowning at the camera in a moving portrait, pictured

The Duchess of Sussex said her book - which will sell for £12.99 ($18.99) - would explore the 'special bond between father and son' as 'seen through a mother's eyes'

The Duchess of Sussex said her book – which will sell for £12.99 ($18.99) – would explore the ‘special bond between father and son’ as ‘seen through a mother’s eyes’

She writes: ‘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.

‘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.’

The book showed portraits taken during the pandemic (pictured), and will be released on Friday online and across UK bookstores

The book showed portraits taken during the pandemic (pictured), and will be released on Friday online and across UK bookstores

The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her

The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her

She goes on: ‘For me, the power of the images is in the poignant and personal stories that sit behind them. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to some of the photographers and sitters, to hear their stories first-hand – from moments of joy, love and community spirit, to deep sadness, pain, isolation and loss.

‘A common theme of those conversations was how lockdown reminded us about the importance of human connection and the huge value we place on the relationships we have with the people around us.

‘Although we were physically apart, these images remind us that, as families, communities and as a nation, we need each other more than we had ever realised.’

She concludes by thanking everyone who took the time to submit an image, adding: ‘Your stories are the most crucial part of this project. 

The announcement comes after the UK marked the one-year anniversary of the first national lockdown earlier this week. Pictured: an image from the new book

The announcement comes after the UK marked the one-year anniversary of the first national lockdown earlier this week. Pictured: an image from the new book

‘I hope that the final 100 photographs showcase the experiences and emotions borne during this time 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.’

Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book will be split between the mental health charity Mind and the National Portrait Gallery. 

The funds will help to support arts and mental health projects across the UK, including Mind’s work in local communities and the National Portrait Gallery’s education and community projects.

As well as showcasing the final 100 images and the stories that accompany each of them, the book – which has been put together with support from the Co-op – will look back at highlights from the community exhibition which took the portraits to billboards and outdoor poster sites in 80 towns, cities and areas in October 2020.

Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book (pictured) will be split between the mental health charity Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

Net proceeds raised from the sale of the book (pictured) will be split between the mental health charity Mind and the National Portrait Gallery

Over the course of the project the Duchess shared a number of her favourite images on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, including one of a young girl seen drawing a huge rainbow onto a window pane, which made it into the book (pictured)

Over the course of the project the Duchess shared a number of her favourite images on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, including one of a young girl seen drawing a huge rainbow onto a window pane, which made it into the book (pictured)

Over the course of the project the Duchess shared a number of her favourite images on the Kensington Royal Instagram page, including a Black Lives Matter protester holding a sign reading: ‘Be on the right side of history.’

Another of the snaps was a black and white image showing a man embracing his daughter, while one shows a child kissing their godmother through a window.

Meanwhile others featured a student holding her exam qualifications, and a young girl seen drawing a huge rainbow onto a window pane.

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, director of The National Portrait Gallery said: ‘The public response to Hold Still, which was spearheaded by our Patron, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been phenomenal.

‘The photographs submitted have helped to create a unifying and cathartic portrait of life in lockdown. We are honoured to have been able to share a selection of these photographs with the nation, first through the online and community exhibition and now through this new publication.

‘The proceeds raised from the book will help us to continue to care for and share our national Collection and to provide free access, inspiration and learning, through the work we do at the Gallery and our UK wide community and education projects.

‘Hold Still is an important record of this extraordinary moment in our history – expressed through the faces of the nation – and we hope will remain so for generations to come.’

As well as showcasing the final 100 images and the stories that accompany each of them, the book - which has been put together with support from the Co-op - will look back at highlights from the community exhibition which took the portraits to billboards and outdoor poster sites in 80 towns, cities and areas in October 2020

As well as showcasing the final 100 images and the stories that accompany each of them, the book – which has been put together with support from the Co-op – will look back at highlights from the community exhibition which took the portraits to billboards and outdoor poster sites in 80 towns, cities and areas in October 2020

In Meghan's book, one illustration by artist Christian Robinson shows a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window, in a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: 'This is your bench, Where life begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin'

In Meghan’s book, one illustration by artist Christian Robinson shows a red-headed soldier wearing an American-style Army cap holding his young son aloft as a woman watches on crying from a window, in a likely reference to her and Harry, who served in Afghanistan with the Blues and Royals. The words read: ‘This is your bench, Where life begins, For you and our son our baby, our kin’ 

Another image features a father with his baby boy sleeping on a lounger outside. A media release said the book featured a 'diverse group of fathers and sons'

Another image features a father with his baby boy sleeping on a lounger outside. A media release said the book featured a ‘diverse group of fathers and sons’ 

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, added: ‘The coronavirus pandemic is a mental health emergency as well as a physical one. The devastating loss of life, the impact of lockdown, and any recession that lies ahead means there has never been a more crucial time to prioritise our mental health.

‘This inspiring collection of portraits illustrates the impact of the pandemic in all its complexity, but also how creativity, art and human connection can help us find meaning in unprecedented challenges.

‘Thank you to everyone who submitted a portrait to tell such a moving and deeply human story of the pandemic. And to the National Portrait Gallery and The Duchess of Cambridge for choosing Mind as a joint beneficiary of proceeds from the sales of this book.’

For more information or to pre-order a copy of the book, visit the National Portrait Gallery’s website.