Kate Middleton has paid a visit to the Imperial War Museum in London. There, she met with Holocaust survivors and commemorated the new Holocaust Galleries in the museum.
On Wednesday afternoon, the duchess went to the museum, where she met Holocaust survivors Steve Frank and Yvonne Bernstein, both of whom were featured in the photo exhibition Generations: Portraits of Holocaust Survivors.
On the 75th anniversary of World War II, the exhibition was unveiled in February 2020. It features 50 contemporary self-portraits of Holocaust survivors taken by 12 photographers alongside photographs taken by the duchess herself.
“Their experiences will stay with me for the rest of my life,” the Duchess added when the exhibit opened at the museum in August.
While I’ve had the pleasure of meeting two of the current few survivors, I realize not everyone in the future will be able to hear these tales firsthand.
Though we live in a modern world, it is critical that their memories are preserved and passed on to future generations so that what they endured will never be forgotten.
The Duchess sported an Alexander McQueen navy military-inspired blouse with matching navy pants and suede boots for the visit. A calf-length navy coat by Catherine Walker and a Remembrance pin completed her ensemble.
Frank confessed to People that the duchess was very attentive and looked concerned talking with his grandchildren. And she asked them about their well-being and their schools.
“It’s great to have folks in the space and have someone so committed who has a line of succession to more people,” James Bulgin, the museum’s Head of Content told the People magazine.
“It’s really wonderful to have as many people as we can in the space, and for us to give them a sense of history and awareness. Anything we can do to pique people’s interest and bring them into the area so that they might think about it is excellent.”
The Holocaust Galleries and Second World War Galleries were officially opened during Middleton’s Wednesday visit.
The museum’s collection includes more than 100,000 photographs, books, artworks, letters, and personal belongings documenting individuals’ unique experiences throughout the war.
IWM’s Director-General, Diane Lees, added: “We are privileged to host Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge at IWM today, and to witness her hosting our new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries.”
Formally opening two of the world’s most destructive conflicts and genocides, a day before the globe gathers to commemorate those who have died in war, is incredibly significant for us.
“We want these Galleries to preserve the stories of our veterans, eyewitnesses, and survivors, and ensure that we never forget what they went through.