The couple have taken to social media to publish a selection of shots included in an initiative backed by the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Photographic Society, of which the Duchess of Cambridge is patron. The four artists highlighted by the royals are Kymara Akinpelumi, Sadie Catt, Isabel Salmon and Rueben Kidd.
The duke and duchess said on their official Twitter account: “There are so many incredibly talented young photographers in Britain today, which is why this #WorldPhotographyDay we’re spotlighting four individuals who have been supported by the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Photographic Society and are doing amazing things. Meet the photographers.”
Ms Akinpelumi, the Cambridges said, is a 2021 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize entrant and focuses her art “on social inclusion, exploring contemporary social climates and bridging art, education & social theory to inspire new ways of thinking”.
Ms Catt’s work has been featured in the National Portrait Gallery’s 2021 Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition. Besides photography, she is an educator based between Bristol, London and Brighton.
Ms Salmon had graduated from the Royal Photography Society’s new RPS Pathways programme, which William and Kate said “provides a platform to support those leaving university with a photography degree”.
Mr Kidd, they said, also took part in the RPS Pathways programme. Having grown up in South West England, he “explores themes of British culture, gentrification, sense of place and human presence”.
Kate and William’s commitment to supporting the world of arts and culture is no secret.
Their ties to the National Portrait Gallery became evident earlier this year when the duchess turned 40.
To mark her milestone birthday, Kensington Palace released a series of new portraits of the mother-of-three which will eventually be added to the permanent collection at the exclusive London gallery.
The impressive shots were taken at Kew Gardens in November 2021 by photographer Paolo Roversi.
Besides being patron of the gallery, Kate has also shown her love for photography in a collaboration with Hold Still, a project that documented the coronavirus pandemic and has since become a book.
The duchess said in a statement about the project: “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.
“Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable.
“Hold Still aims to capture a portrait of the nation, the spirit of the nation, what everyone is going through at this time.
“Photographs reflecting resilience, bravery, kindness – all those things that people are experiencing.”