Abstract

On 7 May 2021, to mark the launch of the Hold Still book, the then Duchess of Cambridge visited the Royal London Hospital where a framed print of Churchill's portrait Melanie, March 2020 was unveiled and gifted to the hospital by the Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery. The portrait was installed in the hospital's main corridor as a reminder of the efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic. The visit was the first engagement of the day for the Duchess, who went on to visit the National Portrait Gallery archive where the acquisition of all 100 Hold Still photographs into the national collection was formally announced. Installation of Churchill's work in one of the UK's major NHS teaching hospitals, gifted by a senior member of the royal family and the National Portrait Gallery.

The event generated significant national press coverage including Hello, the Daily Mail and Co-op's official press release.