Queen Elizabeth has not been seen wearing a face mask in the few times she's been out for a public engagement. But the 94-year-old monarch might finally ascribe to the safety protocols and wear the personal protective equipment at the annual Remembrance Sunday service on Nov. 8, 2020, if she listened to the critics.
According to royal author Robert Lacey, the Queen has another chance to inform and educate the public on the importance of wearing a face mask amid this health crisis. Her Majesty will be flanked by members of the royal family and some veterans during the solemn event. With a number of people present, albeit smaller than usual, it's presumed that everyone attending the ceremony would be covering their faces.
Queen Elizabeth skipped wearing the face mask when she visited Porton Down in October and came in contact with about 48 people, including her grandson, Prince William. Buckingham Palace defended the lack of protective gear from the critics by saying that the people who met the Queen tested negative for the virus beforehand. The science facility, which has been studying biological and chemical weapons, was also sanitized prior to the royals' arrival.
The monarch also didn't wear a face mask during her visit to the Unknown Soldier's grave at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday. There were fewer people at this quiet royal engagement. Regardless, the Queen still stepped out of her protective HMS bubble, which royal aides have strictly implemented in the last seven months to keep her safe from the virus.
Criticisms of the Queen failing to set an example to the public sparked a debate. Some royal observers said that Her Majesty's mindset against face mask is because she wants to show the people of Britain some hope of "mask-less times" in the days ahead.
But Lacey said that wearing a face mask for Remembrance Sunday, a time to honor war heroes, is also another form of honoring the sacrifices of the new heroes in this pandemic: the healthcare workers. It might even be a chance for the Queen to showcase the face masks sold by her charity, the Royal Collection Trust.
Meanwhile, according to Daily Express, even the royal family will not be allowed to sing hymns during this Sunday's service for the fallen war heroes. Communal singing is highly discouraged to avoid increasing the risk of virus transmission. Only a socially distanced choir will be permitted to sing at the ceremony.
The changes to the annual commemoration come as the U.K. implemented its second nationwide lockdown as the virus infection rate rises to four times the average. Per the government's advice, the British public may observe Remembrance Sunday from their homes to safeguard their health and well-being. The scaled-down ceremonies, with fewer than 80 people expected, will be aired live on television.
