The Duchess of Cambridge turned into a “ fairy” on Friday. Kate joined the Book Fairies UK on May 7 to mark the release of Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 . The Duke and Duchess’ official social media accounts shared a video of the royal mom of three leaving a copy of the book by the Queen Victoria statue near Kensington Palace. “Let the search begin!” the caption reads. “We’ve joined @bookfairies_uk for the day to share copies of Hold Still around the UK with you.”
Book fairies share the “joy of reading by leaving their books in public places to be found by the next reader.” The Duchess, book fairies, the Hold Still judges, and participants of the final 100 images featured in the book hid copies around the UK on Friday in places that “gave them hope during the lockdown.” According to a press release, 150 copies featuring a letter from Kate were being hidden on May 7.
The Book Fairies UK posted photos of their royal book fairy in action writing, “We are delighted that The Duchess of Cambridge not only harnessed the power of The Book Fairies today but became one herself to hide copies of Hold Still! With 150 copies being hidden around the UK today, we cannot wait to hear from people who have found one in their community.”
It was announced in March that Kate’s photography project was being turned into a book, which includes an introduction from the Duchess. “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,” Kate wrote.
Princess Charlotte’s mom added, “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 net proceeds from the sale of Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 will be split between the National Portrait Gallery, which Kate is patron of, and the mental health charity Mind. The Duchess launched the Hold Still community photography project last May to create a unique collective portrait of the UK during lockdown.
