Kate Middleton always seems to enjoy her charitable outings — but this one happened to combine two of her favorite things. As a mom of three, Kate has always been a natural when it comes to children. But she's also a budding photographer, as the public has seen in the family photos she has shared.
According to People, Kate teamed up with the National Portrait Gallery’s Hospital Programme and worked closely with patients at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. While there, she taught the kids what she knows about photography. It seems like a dream opportunity for all who were involved.
But that wasn't all. The children also reportedly got a lesson in both 3D set design and illustration. Both are incredible hobbies for children to get interested in. And saying you learned some photography basics from Kate Middleton will look great on a résumé.
It's also important that she's pushing the arts. When it comes to hobbies, oftentimes art, music, and theater aren't properly promoted. By sharing that she finds photography interesting, it's possible that she'll inspire someone else to give it a shot.
Kate's love of photography has been known for quite some time. In June of 2019, she was named a patron of the Royal Photographic Society, which Queen Elizabeth joined back in 1952. The society was founded back in the 1800s and was put in place to honor both the science and art of photography.
"The Duchess of Cambridge has a longstanding interest in photography, and this patronage will further highlight the beneficial impact that art and creativity can have on emotional wellbeing, particularly for children and young people," Kensington Palace's Instagram account stated. It also mentioned that photography can help people with their sense of confidence. There are few better arts to practice self-expression.
While the RPS is open to anyone around the world, it's been an important organization to the royal family. Having Kate join also proves that this is a lasting interest of Kate's. If you've seen her work — which often includes natures scenes and family photos — you'll realize that she's quite good.
Just the other day, Kate took portraits of Holocaust survivors. She invited them over to Kensington Palace for the shoot, and she allowed them to bring family members to truly tell the story behind the photographs. According to Fox News, 84-year-old Steven Frank and Yvonne Bernstein separately got their photos taken with their respective grandchildren.
“The harrowing atrocities of the Holocaust, which were caused by the most unthinkable evil, will forever lay heavy in our hearts," Kate wrote on Instagram. "Yet it is so often through the most unimaginable adversity that the most remarkable people flourish." The photos are awe-inspiring.
She also had a vision for these particular pictures. "I wanted to make the portraits deeply personal to Yvonne and Steven – a celebration of family and the life that they have built since they both arrived in Britain in the 1940s," Kate said. "The families brought items of personal significance with them which are included in the photographs."
Kate also snaps a lot of family photos. In December of 2019, she shared a gorgeous black-and-white photo of Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. While the photo was used for Christmas, the family revealed it had actually been taken before the holiday season.
Kate didn't just teach the kids at the hospital about photography. She also reportedly posed for a few practice photos. One of those, in particular, was taken by Luke Wheeler-Waddison, a 10-year-old who was able to meet with Kate and talk about photography technique. His camera of choice was a Polaroid.
As mentioned earlier, some of Kate's best subjects are her kids. Taking pictures of your children is vital, since they literally change before your eyes every day. But if you look at the particular photos that Kate has posted on Instagram, you may very well think they were taken by a professional.
Another great shot was of Princess Charlotte and one of her favorite stuffed animals, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge herself. The photo shows the pure glee in Charlotte's face. It's a great memory to have captured forever, and one day the princess will be so glad to have it. Again, she's already grown up so much since this photo was taken.
Kate also snapped the moment when Prince George arrived for his first day at Westacre Montessori nursery school. As you know, these days he's attending Thomas's Battersea, a private school located in London. This is one of those photos that deserves to be framed and hung.
Photography isn't Kate's only hobby. She's also interested in cooking, and she does a fantastic job to make sure her family is well-fed. According to Taste of Home, her ultimate favorite dish to make is spicy curry. Prince William, on the other hand, isn't all that fond of spicy foods. Neither is the Queen, who makes sure there's no garlic or onions in her meals.
It'll be great to see Kate pass down her love of cooking and photography to her kids. George, Charlotte, and Louis are quite lucky to have a mom with so many talents. Maybe one day, the duchess will be inspired to print a book with all of her best photos. It'll serve as a reminder that while she's a loving wife and mother, she's so much more beyond that.