It’s well known that Kate Middleton is a keen amateur photographer. The Duchess of Cambridge, who became a lifetime honourary member of the Royal Photographic Society in 2017, notably broke with royal tradition by releasing her own pictures of her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as official photos. She has done so for more than five years: she was behind the lens for the adorable photo of Charlotte that was published to mark her second birthday, and took pictures of George on his first day at nursery school back in January 2016. She's also just done the same for Prince Louis, who had his first day at nursery earlier this week.
Since then, many of her three children's milestones have been marked with such a personal gesture, and recently she continued this tradition by paying tribute to the late Prince Philip with a photograph she took of him with seven of his great-grandchildren.
This breach in protocol is charming and indicative of the Duchess's awareness of the importance of family. But it also serves a vital practical purpose. 'The Duchess loves photography: it is a real passion,' a source says. 'But it is also a way to filter the way in which her young children are depicted: she gets to show the world as many - or as few - pictures as she likes, bypassing the appetite for unofficial paparazzi images. In short, she is having a vital say in managing her young family's privacy.'
An expert in baby photography - a niche genre, admittedly, but we’re rolling with it – adds that Kate’s decision to step behind the camera and take charge of these important images also sends important messages.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Gina Jones from Bumpkins, The Baby Show’s advisors in baby photography, the Duchess is taking a more ‘modern’ and ‘accessible’ approach to royalty, and is demonstrating a resourcefulness with money by opting out of employing an expensive high-profile photographer.
‘It shows how modern Kate and William are by being more accessible and having a hands on approach,’ Gina said.
‘It also shows that they are resourceful with money as you often see Kate in high street fashion and sometimes repeating outfits, and so by taking her own photos this again shows how she is savvy with money,’ she explained, adding that ‘the couple like to exercise control of the images of them as a family.’
The Duchess is reported to favour a Canon EOS 5D Mark II for her portraits.