Kate Middleton loves adult coloring books, and now we love her even more
Being the world’s most-beloved royal must get stressful, because we recently learned that Kate Middleton loves adult coloring books — a popular (and trendy) way to calm down — and now we’re even more in love with her than we were before!
While appointing illustrator Johanna Basford — who created the famous Secret Garden coloring book — an Officer of the Order of the British Empire this week, Prince William told her that his wife, Kate, loves “coloring-in books.”
Said Basford in an interview with the U.K.’s Press Association, “Prince William actually said that his wife likes to color in the Secret Garden, which was really sweet.” She added, “I think we’ve just seen the coloring community flourish.”
Now that is just beyond charming.
Basford, a 33-year-old artist who lives in Scotland with her husband, James Watt, and their daughter, Evie, was a runaway design success from the moment she graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 2005 and began creating high-end wallpaper.
“If you do something that’s a bit different, it attracts attention,” she said in a 2006 interview with Scottish newspaper The Herald. “Everyone wants something that’s a bit unique.”
The impressive artist — who does all of her work by hand — has gone on to sell more than 10 million (!!) coloring books worldwide, including Kate’s fave, Secret Garden, as well as Magical Jungle, Johanna’s Christmas, Lost Ocean, and Enchanted Forest.
“I get a lot of emails from people who are maybe in rehab or rehabilitation for illness or are still in hospital and they say it’s a nice thing to do because it’s calming,” she told The Herald last year. “You’re not plugged in. You’re not looking at emails or updates. You’re not looking at Twitter. It’s not a competitive sport. It’s just something you can do quietly by yourself and be creative.”
We’re huge fans of coloring books, so we’re sending a huge congrats to Johanna on the prestigious award (and to Kate, for finding her bliss!)
