Kate Middleton took the rare step of becoming her family’s main photographer to protect her children from the press after seeing the lasting impact media scrutiny had on Prince William
There is a powerful reason that the Princess of Wales is often seen behind the lens, capturing the warmest and most vulnerable moments from her family with Prince William and their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
It’s become the norm to have charming glimpses into the royal family’s life, but Kate’s decision to take these images wasn’t purely out of her love for photography. There’s a poignant reason Kate insists on taking the photos herself, and one could say it is partly down to her maternal instinct to protect her children.
In the Channel 5 documentary Kate: A Queen for the Future, it was revealed that Kate made the “unprecedented” decision to become the family’s unofficial photographer after witnessing the media hounding that Prince William experienced during his childhood.
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Journalist Afua Hagan explains in the programme: “The Princess of Wales understands who she is, the position that she’s in. She also understands the interest in her family, especially her children, that people want to see them growing up. So she understands that the press needs these pictures.”
She adds: “The Princess of Wales has seen first hand through her husband, Prince William, the damage that the press has done to his life and so she’s realised that if she can do something about that, if she can take control, then she should do that.”
Her decision is considered unprecedented because before Kate’s decision to personally handle the family’s public image came, no other senior royals were taking on this role. As Hagan put it: “Kate did something which was unprecedented at the time. She decided that she was going to be the one to photograph her own children, which I think was an absolutely brilliant move.”
“She’s decided I will take them and I will deliver them to the press agencies. I’ll be the one that post them on social media.” Being in the spotlight is part and parcel of royal life, and Prince William knows that pressure all too well, having faced intense scrutiny from a young age. Both he and Prince Harry have spoken openly about the difficulties that came with growing up in the public eye.
Kate, who turned 43 this year, has become known for her heartfelt, relatable images that show the family in natural settings. Most recently, one of her images was posted to the Wales’s Instagram with a beaming birthday portrait of Princess Charlotte for her 10th birthday with the caption: “Happy 10th birthday Princess Charlotte!”
Last year, royal fans were treated to a joyful shot of Prince William jumping over sand dunes in Norfolk with George, Charlotte and Louis. The photo was released to mark his birthday, and came with the heartfelt message: “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx.”
Kate’s passion for photography extends well beyond the family album. As patron of the Royal Photographic Society, she’s also the force behind the Hold Still project, which documented life across the UK during the pandemic.
But when it comes to photographing her own children, Kate’s mission is simple: to give them a sense of normality and to shield them when she can especially in their early years from the pressures she probably felt when she first came into the spotlight as Prince Williams partner and also the pressure Prince Williams faced from the media growing up.
