Loose Women viewers hit out today after Carol McGiffin claimed it’s ‘not up to the Queen to set an example’ by wearing a face mask.
The monarch yesterday attended her first royal engagement in seven months, opting not to wear a face covering after she maintained social distancing and all 48 people due to come into close contact with her during the visit tested negative for Covid-19 beforehand.
Her Majesty was joined by Prince William at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down near Salisbury to meet scientists who worked in the aftermath of the 2018 Novichok attack, and are supporting the UK’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
On the ITV show today, Carol, 60, from London, who has previously admitted her disliking of face coverings, said she was ‘happy’ to see the Queen without a mask, while Stacey Solomon agreed that we shouldn’t ‘point the finger’ at the royal.
Viewers quickly took to Twitter disheartened that Carol was ‘doing her anti-mask bit again’, while some felt that despite precautions, it is still up to the Queen to show solidarity by wearing a mask.
The Queen yesterday attended her first royal engagement in seven months, in Porton Down, opting not to wear a face covering after testing negative for Covid-19
Loose Women viewers hit out today after Carol McGiffin claimed it’s ‘not up to the Queen to set an example’ by wearing a face mask
‘Everyone knows how I feel about wearing a mask,’ said Carol. ‘No, I don’t think it’s up to the Queen to set an example.
‘In fact I was really happy to see her out without a mask. I get depressed seeing people wearing masks in the street, in the fresh air, in the car on their own wearing masks.
‘Don’t have a go at the Queen for not wearing a mask, especially seeing as everyone around her was tested and socially distanced. Stop telling everyone off all the time for everything’.
The Queen shunned a mask yesterday while joining Prince William at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) near Salisbury, with Buckingham Palace confirming it was a matter of choice, rather than due to any health reason.
Viewers quickly took to Twitter disheartened that Carol was ‘doing her anti-mask bit again’, while some felt that despite precautions, it is still up to the Queen to show solidarity by wearing a mask
However some agreed that after testing negative and maintaining a safe distance from those around her, the Queen was within her right not to wear a mask
Heightened safety precautions were taken with Her Majesty and all 48 people due to come into close contact with her and William tested for Covid-19 by Dstl beforehand and all came back negative.
However some commentators, including royal author Omid Scobie and broadcaster Piers Morgan, criticised the monarch’s decision not to wear a mask, suggesting it didn’t sent out the right message.
Stacey went on: ‘Everyone is ready to point the finger and say you’re not doing this, when you look at the logistics of that situation.
‘She’s at a work event, we’re all here at work not wearing a mask and taking every precaution the government has told us to, so she’s not going against he rules if they were all tested.’
Carol, 60, from London, who has previously admitted her disliking of face coverings, told she was ‘happy’ to see the Queen without a mask
She went on to say that she gets ‘depressed’ seeing people wearing their masks while walking outside or driving a car
Viewers were quick to air their views, with one raging: ‘Carol McGiffin doing her anti-mask bit again. Awful.’
Another said: ‘Loose Women also happy to see Her Majesty The Queen without a mask.’
A third ranted: ‘Just because she is the Queen and people round her have tested negative for the virus and are socially distance, it doesn’t mean it’s ok to be without face masks and that includes people who is around her too. They were all without face mask. We all have to wear face masks wherever we go.’
However some agreed that after testing negative and maintaining a safe distance from those around her, the Queen was within her rights not to wear a mask.
Stacey Solomon went on: ‘Everyone is ready to point the finger and say you’re not doing this, when you look at the logistics of that situation’
One wrote: ‘Stacey is right. No one on Loose Women is wearing a mask even though they are indoors. You can sit inside a restaurant eating without a mask. It was outside, everyone was tested and distancing.’
Another said: ‘Please correct me if I am wrong but I saw a report that said everyone was tested before she went. Also, everyone was distanced from each other so safe to go without a mask.’
This comes after Carol was branded ‘self-centred’ by Loose Women viewers for admitting she ‘goes out of her way’ to avoid wearing a face mask.
She said on the show in July that she finds wearing a mask ‘a real invasion of my space’ and will try her best not to wear one unless it’s mandatory, and questioned ‘when will it end’ with regards to wearing face coverings.
The presenter, 60, London, told in July that she finds wearing a mask ‘a real invasion of privacy’ and will try her best not to wear one unless it’s mandatory
Host Kéllé Bryan went on to argue that Carol wearing a mask may prevent someone else from getting the virus
Viewers were quick to criticise the host, with several branding her ‘selfish’ and saying that while many others are uncomfortable, it’s ‘important’ to wear a mask to stop the spread of the infection.
She said that she knows wearing a mask is ‘not a choice in a lot of situations’ but where possible she will ‘go out of my way to avoid wearing a mask’.
‘They’re invasive’, she said, ‘They’re uncomfortable. My theories on all sorts of things about the virus and the masks are not for airing now.
‘But I do think sometimes these things happen and people get used to it, so when does it end?,’ she asked.
‘When do we stop wearing masks? Or do we always have to walk around with a mask? I find it a real invasion of my space.’