She said she wanted photographs that captured a ‘snapshot of life during lockdown’.

And that’s exactly what the Duchess of Cambridge has amassed.

Hold Still, a photography initiative launched by Kate with the National Portrait Gallery, attracted more than 31,000 entries from members of the public in just six weeks.

With the help of a judging panel comprising Nicholas Cullinan, director of the gallery; poet Lemn Sissay; Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England; and photographer Maryam Wahid, the Duchess has whittled these down to 100 ‘finalists’ whose work goes on display in a digital exhibition at www.npg.org/holdstill today.

The Queen has also written a special message of congratulations to all those who submitted an image. She said: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge and I were inspired to see how the photographs have captured the resilience of the British people at such a challenging time, whether that is through celebrating frontline workers, recognising community spirit or showing the efforts of individuals supporting those in need.’

The 100 images selected include:

1: The Look Of Lockdown

By Lotti Sofia. Location, London

Lotti says of the image: ‘This is my lockdown pal, Pepter. Lockdown has forced a large majority of us into mandatory stillness. We’ve felt lonely, sad, worried, confused, anxious and everything in between, but we are grateful for every key worker, our health and for the humanity and empathy that has grown out of this dreary time.’

The Look Of Lockdown by Lotti Sofia. Location, London. Lotti says of the image: ‘This is my lockdown pal, Pepter. Lockdown has forced a large majority of us into mandatory stillness. We’ve felt lonely, sad, worried, confused, anxious and everything in between, but we are grateful for every key worker, our health and for the humanity and empathy that has grown out of this dreary time

2: Sami

By Grey Hutton. Hackney, London

Grey says: ‘I met Sami on his first day volunteering at a food bank in Hackney. Sami, who is from Sudan, had just moved into an apartment overlooking the food hub. He saw what was happening below, and came down to lend a hand. It’s everyday acts of kindness like his that have brought communities together through this crisis.’

Sami By Grey Hutton. Hackney, London. Grey says: ‘I met Sami on his first day volunteering at a food bank in Hackney. Sami, who is from Sudan, had just moved into an apartment overlooking the food hub. He saw what was happening below, and came down to lend a hand. It’s everyday acts of kindness like his that have brought communities together through this crisis’

3: Everyday Hero Richard

By Arnhel de Serra, London

Arnhel says: ‘When I drove past Richard I had to do a double take, as I couldn’t believe he was out on his postman’s round in fancy dress. Given the doomsday scenario that the media were portraying in the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, I felt very strongly that here was a man who had something positive to offer his community.’

Everyday Hero Richard by Arnhel de Serra, London. Arnhel says: ‘When I drove past Richard I had to do a double take, as I couldn’t believe he was out on his postman’s round in fancy dress. Given the doomsday scenario that the media were portraying in the early days of the Covid 19 pandemic, I felt very strongly that here was a man who had something positive to offer his community’

4: Never Without Her Grandma

By Melanie Lowis, Teddington, south-west London

Melanie says; ‘Millie, five, made a cut-out of her much-loved grandma. Millie sees grandma almost daily and lockdown prevented the pair from seeing each other. When lockdown ends, and the real grandma can return, it will be a very emotional reunion.’

Never Without Her Grandma by Melanie Lowis, Teddington, south-west London. Melanie says; ‘Millie, five, made a cut-out of her much-loved grandma. Millie sees grandma almost daily and lockdown prevented the pair from seeing each other. When lockdown ends, and the real grandma can return, it will be a very emotional reunion’

5: Thank You

By Wendy Huson, Liverpool

‘Wendy says: Our little girl, Amelia, has Down’s syndrome. I made her a very simple nurses outfit and then took the picture in our kitchen to celebrate International Nurses Day. We wanted to put a special post on her social media accounts thanking all of the nurses for the amazing work they do every day and especially during the Covid 19 pandemic.’

Thank You By Wendy Huson, Liverpool. Wendy says: Our little girl, Amelia, has Down’s syndrome. I made her a very simple nurses outfit and then took the picture in our kitchen to celebrate International Nurses Day. We wanted to put a special post on her social media accounts thanking all of the nurses for the amazing work they do every day and especially during the Covid 19 pandemic’

6: Holding Tight

By Katy Rudd and Joe Wyer, Redhill, Surrey

Katy and Joe say: ‘This photograph was taken on the commemorations of VE Day on May 8. During lockdown we couldn’t see our family or friends. On VE Day, we had a picnic and our neighbours did the same. Lockdown had been hard, but it had brought our community together.’

Holding Tight By Katy Rudd and Joe Wyer. Redhill, Surrey. Katy and Joe say: ‘This photograph was taken on the commemorations of VE Day on May 8. During lockdown we couldn’t see our family or friends. On VE Day, we had a picnic and our neighbours did the same. Lockdown had been hard, but it had brought our community together’

Other works included are This is What Broken Looks Like by Ceri Hayles, Glass Kisses by Steph James and Forever Holding Hands by Hayley Evans.

The Queen has said she was ‘inspired’ by the results of a photographic lockdown project led by the Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate and a panel of judges selected 100 images from more than 31,000 entries for the Hold Still digital exhibition, which launched with the National Portrait Gallery in May.

People of all ages across the UK were invited to submit a photo which they had taken during lockdown, and in the six weeks that the project was open 31,598 images were submitted.

This is What Broken Looks Like by Ceri Hayles. The Queen has said she was ‘inspired’ by the results of a photographic lockdown project led by the Duchess of Cambridge

Glass Kisses by Steph James. Kate and a panel of judges selected 100 images from more than 31,000 entries for the Hold Still digital exhibition, which launched with the National Portrait Gallery in May

Forever Holding Hands by Hayley Evans. People of all ages across the UK were invited to submit a photo which they had taken during lockdown, and in the six weeks that the project was open 31,598 images were submitted

Tony Hudgell’s 10k walk for Evelina London by David Tett. As the exhibition went live on Monday, the Queen said: ‘It was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to look through a number of the portraits that made the final 100 images for the Hold Still photography project’

Francks Fight by Anna Hewitt. The Queen said: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge and I were inspired to see how the photographs have captured the resilience of the British people at such a challenging time, whether that is through celebrating frontline workers, recognising community spirit or showing the efforts of individuals supporting those in need’

Street artist at work by Victoria Stokes. ‘The Duchess of Cambridge and I send our best wishes and congratulations to all those who submitted a portrait to the project,’ the Queen said

As the exhibition went live on Monday, the Queen said: ‘It was with great pleasure that I had the opportunity to look through a number of the portraits that made the final 100 images for the Hold Still photography project.

‘The Duchess of Cambridge and I were inspired to see how the photographs have captured the resilience of the British people at such a challenging time, whether that is through celebrating frontline workers, recognising community spirit or showing the efforts of individuals supporting those in need.

‘The Duchess of Cambridge and I send our best wishes and congratulations to all those who submitted a portrait to the project.’

Among the images shared with the Queen were The Look Of Lockdown by Carlotta Cutrupi, which evokes feelings of isolation, and Everyday Hero – Richard by Arnhel de Serra, which celebrates the work of a Royal Mail worker.

Pictured is Funeral Heartbreak by Bonnie Sapsford and Fiona Grant-MacDonald. The Hold Still initiative aimed to capture and document ‘the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the nation’ as the UK dealt with the coronavirus outbreak

Ruth, David and Scarlet in Lockdown by Sarah Weal. Judges on the panel included England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May, director of the National Portrait Gallery Nicholas Cullinan, writer and poet Lemn Sissay and photographer Maryam Wahid

Pictured above is an image showing a child in front of a laptop computer. It’s called My Only Friend, by Rah Petherbridge

On Your Doorstep by Kenny Glover. Hold Still, a photography initiative launched by Kate with the National Portrait Gallery, attracted more than 31,000 entries from members of the public in just six weeks

Hero by Glenn Dene. With the help of a judging panel comprising Nicholas Cullinan, director of the gallery; poet Lemn Sissay; Ruth May, Chief Nursing Officer for England; and photographer Maryam Wahid, the Duchess has whittled these down to 100 ‘finalists’ whose work goes on display in a digital exhibition at www.npg.org/holdstill today

In family we trust by Nina Robinson. The Queen has also written a special message of congratulations to all those who submitted an image

Hold Still focuses on three themes – helpers and heroes, your new normal and acts of kindness – with the final 100 tackling subjects including family life in lockdown, the work of healthcare staff and the Black Lives Matter movement.

One entry shows a woman during an anti-racism protest holding a banner which reads, ‘Be on the right side of history’ while another sees Captain Sir Tom Moore give a thumbs up to the camera.

The Hold Still initiative aimed to capture and document ‘the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the nation’ as the UK dealt with the coronavirus outbreak.

Judges on the panel included England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May, director of the National Portrait Gallery Nicholas Cullinan, writer and poet Lemn Sissay and photographer Maryam Wahid.

Higher learning by Claudia Burton. The Hold Still initiative aimed to capture and document ‘the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the nation’ as the UK dealt with the coronavirus outbreak

Lockdown Life – Paul & Simon by Rebecca Douglas. Judges on the panel included England’s chief nursing officer Ruth May, director of the National Portrait Gallery Nicholas Cullinan, writer and poet Lemn Sissay and photographer Maryam Wahid

Your New Normal by Julie Aoulad-Ali and Kamal Riyani. Kate previously said she had 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’

Making bread by James Webb. The panel assessed the images on the emotions and experiences they convey, rather than on their photographic quality or technical expertise

Sister attending online ballet class by Vedant (aged 12 years). A selection of the photographs will be shown in towns and cities across the UK later in the year

Kate previously said she had 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’.

The panel assessed the images on the emotions and experiences they convey, rather than on their photographic quality or technical expertise.

A selection of the photographs will be shown in towns and cities across the UK later in the year.

The digital exhibition can be viewed at npg.org.uk/holdstill

We always wear a smile by Jill Bowler and Trevor Edwards. The digital exhibition can be viewed at npg.org.uk/holdstill

The gardener by Phoebe Costard. A selection of the photographs will be shown in towns and cities across the UK later in the year

The struggle by Joy (aged 12 yrs). A medic is seen behind a rainy pane of glass while wearing her work uniform

Short Cut by Kate Ainger and Coni. A lack of access to hairdressers early on in lockdown led many Britons to improvise

Shielding Mila by Lynda Sneddon. A child wearing medical support equipment is seeing looking out of a window

A brief period of rejoicing by Jocelyn Murgatroyd. The anniversary of Victory in Europe Day took place amid the coronavirus crisis

Akuac by Anastasia Orlando. Hold Still focuses on three themes – helpers and heroes, your new normal and acts of kindness – with the final 100 tackling subjects including family life in lockdown, the work of healthcare staff and the Black Lives Matter movement

Bedtime Stories with Grandma by Laura Macey. Lockdown led to the rise of video calling between people who could not meet

Prayers for Our Community by The Revd. Tim Hayward and Beth Hayward. Pictures of the congregation are seen above

Eid-Ul-Fitr 2020 by Roshni Haque. Women are seen standing with a few feet between them

Distanced Gaming by Tracey Philbey. An inter-generational game of noughts and crosses is seen being playing through a window

Clapping for Mummy & Daddy (our heroes) by Nicole Paige Walters. Two children are seen applauding on a brick wall

Care Worker by Karwai Tang. A woman wearing personal protective equipment is seen comforting an elderly person

Birthday Lockdown by Kate Sargent and Rachel Scarfe. A woman is seen holding the hands of two children in the street

Behind Closed Doors by Alexander Scott. A medic is seen almost completely covered in personal protective equipment

Biba Behind Glass by Simon Murphy. A young person is seen from behind leaf-patterned glass

Annemarie Plas, Founder of Clap for our Carers, is pictured here at the last clap by Amanda Summons

Empty by Julie Thiberg. Stockpiling and a lack of supplies were an issue during the earliest stages of lockdown in Britain

HaPPE by Imogen Johnston. Medical staff are seen wearing masks with smiles drawn on them

Grandma + Grandad = Love by Diane Bartholomew Magalhaes. A family is seen moving down a road together

Granny’s 90th by Georgia Koronka. A medic is seen attending to an elderly person in a wheelchair

Lockdown Wedding by Donna Duke Llande. The need to social distance meant many celebrations had to go ahead without large parties

Just One More Night Shift by Angharad Bache. Supermarket staff carried on working throughout the coronavirus crisis

‘Keep smiling through, just like you always do. Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds away’ by Jessica Sommerville

In the workroom of Suzanna and Florence Sweryda photographed by Alun Callender for the Makers for NHS project

This black and white piece is called In School Still Here, by students from Maiden Erlegh School, Reading

Over the Rainbow by Chris Taylor. Children are seen lying on a playground next to a message thanking the NHS

Outdoor space by Val Azisi. Children are seen reading books in their pyjamas next to drying clothes on a balcony

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