Why was Queen Elizabeth II permitted to go without a face mask?

On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth II, 94, headed out for her first face-to-face engagement of the year, looking beautiful in lime green. The royal has spent the majority of the pandemic at Windsor Castle with her spouse, Prince Philip, 99, and fans were overjoyed to see her out and about after months behind closed doors.

The Queen made the unexpected appearance to attend an event commemorating the Australian Royal Air Force's 100th anniversary.

She did not, however, wear a face mask.

Here's why

Queen Elizabeth II is fully vaccinated.

According to sources, the 94-year-old queen obtained both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine before making her first public appearance of the year on Wednesday. The Queen appeared without a face mask at the CWGC Air Forces Memorial in Surrey, a quick drive from Windsor Castle, to commemorate the Royal Australian Air Force's centenary.

Although Buckingham Palace announced in January that the Queen and her 99-year-old husband, Prince Philip, had obtained their first doses, they stated they would make no more announcements about their second jab.

The Queen used the British colloquialism “the jab” to describe the vaccine in a video call published in February.

“It was very quick, and I've had lots of letters from people who have been surprised by how easy it was to get the vaccine,” she said during a conference call with health officials from the United Kingdom's four nations. “And the jab — it didn't hurt at all.”

Social distance

Meetings of up to six persons are permitted in England, according to the new Government guidelines issued on March 29, as long as social distancing steps are followed.

The Queen did not need to wear a mask because she used social distancing techniques during her outdoor engagement on Wednesday.

In England, face masks are only legally required in indoor environments, according to current government guidelines.