Queen Elizabeth was recently slammed on social media after she attended her first royal engagement with Prince William since the coronavirus pandemic.
This week, the monarch visited the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory in southwest England on Thursday. But eagle-eyed netizens immediately noticed that she and Prince William weren’t wearing masks.
Even though the queen and her grandson practiced social distancing guidelines, their decision to not wear masks drew criticisms on social media.
One royal fan said that the queen should’ve ignored her pride by wearing a mask because this rule applies to everyone, including her. And everyone, including the queen, should be vigilant to contain the virus and prevent its spread.
Another royal fan said that the queen not wearing a mask in public may have encouraged other people to follow in her footsteps. They also accused the monarch of not setting a good example for everyone.
One royal fan also said that the queen is 94, and all the more should she wear a mask. However, the fact that she didn’t send a clear and strong message that she’s not worried about her health and the health of those around her.
But a spokesperson for Buckingham Palace immediately came to the queen’s defense by saying that the monarch sought expert advice before agreeing to make a public appearance.
The spokesperson also said that all necessary precautions had been taken, and they are also working closely with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory.
However, Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan still didn’t approve of the queen and Prince William’s decision to not wear a mask in public. He said that not wearing a mask isn’t a smart move.
Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie also commented on the queen’s decision not to wear a mask. He said that all the staff members at the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory were tested for COVID-19, and their results came out negative.
But Scobie also said that seeing leaders in masks would have been a strong visual. And this is may be why a lot of royal fans were reacting negatively to the queen’s decision not to wear one.
As of late, there is still no word as to when the queen’s next royal engagement will take place.