To mark Prince William’s 44th birthday and Father’s Day on June 21, 2026, the Princess of Wales released a new, candid portrait of her husband and daughter, Princess Charlotte. While the image captured widespread attention for its intimacy, the most notable detail was the absence of the photographer herself—the Princess of Wales.
Kate Middleton has long established herself as the family’s unofficial photographer, a role that offers the public a rare, un-stuffy glimpse into royal life. As noted by the BBC and other outlets, this is not a new endeavor; the Princess has been capturing these moments for over a decade. Her interest in photography was sparked in her childhood by her paternal grandfather, Peter Middleton, a former Royal Air Force pilot who taught her the fundamentals of the craft.
Professional photographers have frequently praised the Princess’s technical skill and eye for composition. Samir Hussein, a royal photographer, noted to Us Weekly that the Princess possesses a talent that exceeds that of an amateur, citing her ability to capture genuine, unguarded emotion. In 2017, the Royal Photographic Society granted her an honorary lifetime membership, and she later succeeded Queen Elizabeth II as the society’s patron in 2019.
Beyond personal family portraits, the Princess has used her platform to engage the public, most notably through the 2020 “Hold Still” project in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery. The initiative encouraged the public to document their lives during the pandemic, resulting in over 31,000 submissions. For the Princess, the goal remains consistent: capturing reality without the artifice of a staged studio environment.