Kate Middleton 'overwhelmed' by response to her lockdown photography project as 100 finalists selected

The Duchess of Cambridge launched the project in May to capture life in lockdown Britain

Kate Middleton has teased some of the finalists from her lockdown photo project. Instagram / KensingtonRoyal 

The Duchess of Cambridge has revealed she has been “overwhelmed” by the response to her lockdown photography project, which received more than 31,000 entries.

Launched in May, the Hold Still project aimed to document the spirit and mood of the public during the UK’s lockdown which placed strict limitations on movement and socialising.

The project is a joint venture between the Duchess and London's National Portrait Gallery, and 100 finalists have now been chosen by Kate and a number of other judges, and will be included in a digital exhibition launching in September.

"I've been so overwhelmed by the public's response to Hold Still, the quality of the images has been extraordinary, and the poignancy and the stories behind the images have been equally as moving as well,” Kate said in a post to the Kensington Royal Instagram account.

"I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has entered and taken part. And a big thank you to my fellow judges. I hugely appreciate the time and dedication that they have shown towards the project."

The account also shared a snapshot of some of the images to make the final 100. One image shows a nurse enjoying a meal during a break from work. In another image, a vicar conducts a service in an empty church, which images of his congregation pinned to chairs.

Kate, who is a patron of the gallery and herself a keen photographer, said the project sought to capture the "resilience, bravery, kindness" that people experienced in such extraordinary times.

"We've all been struck by some of the incredible images we've seen which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people across the country," she said in a statement as the project launched.

"Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable."

The 100 shortlisted pictures have been selected for the emotion and experience they convey rather than technical quality and will feature in a digital exhibition set to go live on Monday, September 14.