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No, the Queen has not been photographed in a mask

PA/Unknown

I’m a member of several royal family fan groups on Facebook and last night I saw the most charming image of the Queen with the caption, “Lead by example.” “How delightful!” I thought to myself. “I’m surprised I haven’t seen this photo before…” Was my second thought. I know that Queen Elizabeth has settled into her favorite location, Windsor, and isn’t expected back at Buckingham Palace until 2021. I know that one of her first and last “appearances” since lockdown was Princess Beatrice’s secret wedding. Where would she wear this mask? It didn’t add up. (Although, matching her mask to her iconic colorful suits totally made sense to me.)

To my surprise, I have seen this photo before. Sans mask. On June 28th, 2019 The UK Daily Mail published an article titled, “Splash of sunshine! Queen dons a vibrant yellow coat as she meets pupils at a North Lanarkshire school – as she heads to Balmoral to start her summer holiday.” The Queen was photographed visiting a school in North Lanarkshire.

The mask meme circulating around the internet is not authentic. You can see that this is clearly the photo used to photoshop a mask on the Queen. Taken an entire year earlier. Although I imagine that HRH would strongly suggest the use of a masks until we find a vaccine, she herself has not been photographed in one since the beginning of the global pandemic.

Look, this isn’t an anti-mask post. I have multiple masks. If I can do anything in the world to prevent making someone or myself ill, I will. I washed my hands way before grown adults had to be reminded.

This is a google/investigate before you share a photo or web story to make sure it is legitimate… post. I don’t mind the message. One of the strongest women in the world wearing a mask? That’s pretty cool. But why be dishonest about it? Why not go about it the way Monica Ahanonu did? Share her artwork. It will get the point across without deception.

The moral of this story? Source before you share.

Kinsey Schofield is the Editor-in-Chief of To Di For Daily and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.