The kindness of Kate, Duchess of Cornwall
Following the death of her husband and ‘rock’ earlier this month, The Queen will look to her family for support more than ever. As we approach the tenth anniversary of Kate becoming the Duchess of Cambridge we take a look at how William’s once blushing bride has really come into her own over the past 12 months
It was all smiles ten years ago when Kate Middleton, then aged 29, walked down the aisle of Westminster Abbey to marry her prince. Over the last decade there have been many challenges, not least the unprecedented pandemic we’ve all lived through in the past year, the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and now, most recently, the sad passing of Prince William’s grandfather, The Duke of Edinburgh, at the age of 99.
However, many royal watchers believe that it’s in the midst of these crises that Kate has really come into her own and shown herself to be a dedicated and kind woman always wanting to do her bit. Or as former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond puts it, ‘playing a blinder’.
Since the beginning of the first lockdown Kate has demonstrated her kindness, compassion and consideration for others. And it’s not just going through the motions and being seen to be doing the right thing. Since April last year, the Duchess has – either alone or accompanied by her husband – contributed to more than 30 Zoom and Facetime calls with a range of causes, charities, organisations and individuals. The video call to Shire Hall care home in Cardiff last August was one of the most heart-warming, with Kate displaying her sense of humour as she and William acted as remote bingo callers for residents playing the game.
“Six and two, ticketty boo!” Kate announced, before laughing loudly when one of the residents informed her that her
bingo-calling wasn’t as good as it could have been!
However, in all Kate’s appearances since the pandemic – mostly on social media platforms with an increasing number taking place in person as lockdown has eased – there has been one underlying theme – kindness. “Small acts of kindness can go such a long way,” she said in a speech to The Oak National Academy, a charitable organisation to help children in need, last June. “But as we help others, we mustn’t forget to nurture ourselves by taking the time to focus on the things that make us feel happy, too.”
Kindness was again the theme when she chatted to nurses from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust to learn about their experiences in January this year. “You hear time and time again about the amazing things nurses up and down the country are doing – going that extra mile,” she said. “It’s the things that, you know, are not part of the training and the things you’re taught, but the things that come from your heart. I think that’s what matters so much now, these acts of kindness to the patients who are in your care and when family members aren’t able to be there.”
It is also Kate’s intrinsic personal kindness – so perfectly demonstrated last month when, at an engagement, she insisted her royal protection officer hand over a spare umbrella in order to shelter the NHS worker she was talking to – that partly inspired her to last year launch her Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 photography project.
A keen amateur photographer herself, Kate has been working in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery – the aim of the project being to encourage people to take photos and document their experiences during the pandemic.
“Photographs reflecting kindness, resilience, bravery,” Kate has said. “All those things and emotions that people are experiencing. Hold Still aims to capture a portrait of the nation, the spirit of the nation, what everyone is going through at this time. We’ve all been struck by some of the incredible images we’ve seen, which have given us an insight into the
‘Small acts of kindness can go such a long way’
Kate speaking in June last year
experiences and stories of people across the country. Some desperately sad images show the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures show people coming together to support those more vulnerable – also capturing significant moments for families and communities as we’ve lived through the pandemic.”
More than 31,000 photographic submissions were received, with entrants ranging from four to 75 years old. From these, a panel of judges selected 100 portraits, assessing the images on the emotions and experiences they conveyed. In addition to the book – published on May 7, proceeds of which will be split between the mental health charity, Mind, and the National Portrait Gallery – the portraits can be viewed on the gallery website. It is hoped that once lockdown eases further, the gallery will physically show the images in cities across the UK.
Writing in the foreword Kate (39) says: “When we look back at the 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.”
Kate also spoke to some of the photographers and sitters to hear their stories first hand. Again writing in the foreword, she says: “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 a nation we need each other more than we had ever realised.”
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
■ Hold Still: A Portrait of Our Nation in 2020 is published on May 7, rrp £24.95
■ The National Portrait Gallery, npg.org.uk