The Hold Still project, being run by London’s National Portrait Gallery, aims to document the spirit and mood of the public during the six-week lockdown which has placed strict limitations on movement and socialising.

Kate, who is a patron of the gallery and herself a keen photographer, said the project sought to capture the “resilience, bravery, kindness” that people were experiencing in such extraordinary times.

“We’ve all been struck by some of the incredible images we’ve seen which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people across the country,” she said in a statement.

“Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable.”

In an interview with This Morning, the duchess added that she was inspired to start the project after seeing the viral picture of nurse Aimee Goold and the marks left on her face from her personal protective equipment.

Kensington Palace said the project was open to submissions from Britons of all ages and abilities, with 100 shortlisted pictures, selected by the emotion and experience they convey rather technical quality, to feature in a digital exhibition.

Britain now has the highest recorded death toll from Covid-19 in Europe, according to figures released on Tuesday.