In a touching Christmas speech, Queen Elizabeth II paid a silent tribute to her granddaughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, shedding light on her commendable work during the pandemic.

While Her Majesty primarily focused on the global health crisis, video clips played alongside her speech, honoring the efforts of senior members of the royal family throughout 2020.

Notably, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s initiative, the Hold Still photography contest, took center stage, as reported by the Express.

The collaboration between Kate and the National Portrait Gallery aimed to capture and document the nation’s spirit, hopes, fears, and emotions amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Now, the poignant portraits are on display in 80 towns and cities across the United Kingdom, bringing the stories of individuals and families during lockdown back to their respective communities.

During the Queen’s speech, many of these remarkable portraits, which made it to the final selection of 100, were showcased.

They illustrated the isolation caused by lockdown, but also the resilience and sense of community that emerged during the challenging year of 2020.

Among the captivating snapshots featured in the montage was “Glass Kisses” by Steph James.

This heartfelt image depicted a great-grandmother kissing the tiny hand of her great-grandson through a glass barrier, symbolizing the inability to meet in person.

Another powerful photo, titled “Daddy’s Love” and submitted by Simran Jandua, captured a granddaughter communicating with her grandmother through a closed door.

Reverend Tim Hayward and Beth Hayward’s photograph, “Prayers for Our Community,” portrayed the reverend standing alone in an empty church, surrounded by pictures of members of his congregation.

During her speech, the Queen also acknowledged the contributions of other members of the royal family.

The engagements highlighted included Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince Charles’ visit to the Gloucestershire Hospital’s NHS Trust in June.