- After the Internet/Twitter/bored graphics experts made Queen Elizabeth II and Boris Johnson a meme, they're at it again: Her bright green dress during her weekend address about coronavirus made the perfect Photoshop opportunity.
- Twitter users swapped out the dress with an Iron Maiden logo, Baby Yoda meme, pictures of adorable animals, and so much more.
- Actually, the color was significant for another (more serious) reason.
The fact that the vast majority of tech-savvy people are sitting at home with lots of free time on their hands has led to some truly terrific Internet moments—much needed, honestly, during a pretty scary time. First, it was the Queen and Boris Johnson having a serious phone call that was guaranteed to become a meme the second the Royal Family shared it. And now it's the Queen's lovely, historic address to the UK in a pretty green dress—that happens to be the perfect color for Photoshop experts to put patterns over. (Green screens are used in film production because it doesn't match skin color or, usually, outfits, so a CGI background/effect can be easily "placed" around the person. Which is exactly what people did here.)
It all started when writer/cartoonist Peter Chiykowski (his name now reads "Peter Chiykowski respects the Queen, I promise," lol) called the green dress "the perfect Photoshop bait." "I, for one, would like to thank the Queen for making her royal address and providing the nation with something it sorely needs right now," he added. And then he proceeded to swap out the green dress with a picture of the Queen in glorious tie-dye with a cat meme on it:
I, for one, would like to thank the Queen for making her royal address and providing the nation with something it sorely needs right now...The perfect Photoshop bait... pic.twitter.com/dU0CIATWs1April 5, 2020
And it for sure did not end there. Chiykowski Photoshopped the Queen wearing an Iron Maiden shirt, a Monty Python reference, and even a Baby Yoda meme:
Okay 2020 let's break the Internet pic.twitter.com/dBgi7IgEaeApril 5, 2020
And you can absolutely bet that other Twitter users jumped on the bandwagon in a big way. Seriously, the entire thread is worth a read, but here are a few epic standouts:
The Queen wears the Queen:
Elizabeth II wearing Elizabeth I: pic.twitter.com/7CZXtMYBlRApril 6, 2020
A little Tiger King (opens in new tab) synergy (opens in new tab), right there:
#TigerKingNetflix #CaroleBaskin pic.twitter.com/yYIOOKRyZPApril 6, 2020
If it's not expanding properly for you, her top now reads, "Carole Baskin killed her husband."
Oh my God it's a GIF!!
This canvas speaks to me pic.twitter.com/iWk6FuGsPMApril 6, 2020
Dear lord, the best (the Queen as an interested buyer at a novelty tee shop makes my day):
pic.twitter.com/oNFWIKlecWApril 6, 2020
A couple users (eyeroll) said that Chiykowski's memes were disrespectful, to which he had a pointed, spectacular response:
A few of you said my queenscreen photoshops are disrespectful, and you're right.The Queen is definitely a corgis > cats lady. pic.twitter.com/XmQI5jJ5AoApril 5, 2020
And he also highlighted (opens in new tab) a couple Queen-supported Soundcloud charities we can donate to, on a more serious note. Slow clap, sir.
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Katherine’s a Boston-based contributor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle—from “Clueless” to Everlane to news about Lizzo. She’s been a freelancer for 11 years and has had roles with Cosmopolitan and Bustle, with bylines in Parents, Seventeen, and elsewhere. It’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
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