The Duchess of Cambridge appeared effortlessly stylish as she recycled a Sézane blouse for a portrait inside her new photo book released today.
Last year, Kate Middleton, 39, asked the public to submit photographs taken during the pandemic to collate a lasting record of the moment in time through her Hold Still project.
She appears in good spirits as she poses with a camera for a snap positioned opposite the introduction to the book, with her hair swept over one shoulder with loose waves for a relaxed look.
It is not the first that she’s worn her now out of stock Sézane Margeurite blouse, having previously teamed it with a wine coloured jumper for the Cambridge’s Christmas card 2020 and with a Troy London jacket at an engagement in 2019.
The duchess appears to be wearing her £200 Daniella Draper Mini Cupid Hoop Earrings that she has been spotted wearing on numerous occasions, including for a video call for her patronage, Action on Addiction in June 2020 and for the royal tour of Ireland.
The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) recycled a Sézane Margeurite blouse and wine colour sweater for a photograph to accompany her new photo book
Kate’s photograph for her Hold Still project is believed to have been taken during the Christmas card photoshoot, as she is seen wearing the same minimalist make-up and subtle accessories.
She is known for refreshing her wardrobe by styling key pieces in new ways, and the sweater worn for the book release has striking similarities to a style by J Crew that she wore at the Chelsea Flower Show.
Pairing the look with jeans, Kate beams in the snap possibly smiling at William and their three children as she holds a Fujifilm X-T3 camera.
Fashion stylist Rochelle White, told Femail: ‘I love that Kate opted for the wine colour jumper and frilly blouse under it. It creates a stylish yet relaxed look. However, Kate has been know for recycling her garments and this jumper we have seen before on the family Christmas card in 2020. She also was wearing her gold hoops which again she has worn before on various calls with Prince William. I feel she is still being mindful of her fashion choices and keeping it simple.’
The photograph shared to mark the release of the new book was taken by royal photographer Matt Porteous, who also captured the snap for their Christmas card in the grounds of their Norfolk country home Amner Hall, where they spent much of last year during lockdown.
Kate partnered with the National Portrait Gallery for the new book, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, which will be available in UK bookshops and online from Friday 7 May, one year on since the project was first launched.
Kate previously wore the blouse for the Cambridge’s Christmas card (photograph), the style has a pie crust collar and distinctive ladder-stitch detailing at the front placket, cuffs, and shoulders
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.
The book features 100 portraits chosen from over 31,000 images, with those selected shown in a digital exhibition before being displayed across the UK as part of a community exhibition.
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.
Kate has refreshed the blouse by styling it in numerous different ways, including with a Troy London jacket for a visit to Cumbria in 2019
The new book includes an introduction from Kate, in which she explains why launching Hold Still was so important to her.
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.’
Today Kate and the National Portrait Gallery announced the new book, Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020, will be available in UK bookshops and online from Friday 7 May, one year on since the project was first launched
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. 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.’