Employees at the North Wales HQ of Iceland were said to have been ordered by management to take off their Covid masks in front of Prince Charles.
Employees at the frozen food retailer's Deeside base removed their protective face coverings as a royal visit took place yesterday to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary.
A source at the site described how managers were overheard instructing workers to de-mask, while it's claimed that company founder Sir Malcolm Walker told the visiting dignitaries he "didn't care" if there was a negative reaction to the decision on social media.
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The anonymous insider told North Wales Live there had been a discussion between royal staff and Iceland executives at the start of the visit.
"They were talking about face coverings but Sir Malcolm wasn’t having it," he said.
"He was being warned about the potential flak the company might get on social media – but he wasn’t bothered."
Explaining that Iceland-branded masks has been handed out to employees prior to 73-year-old Charles' arrival, the source added, "Some staff were wearing masks, others weren't.
"But word seemed to be filtering down the line that staff shouldn't be wearing them.
"So a senior manager spoke to his colleagues and, en masse, they all removed their face coverings."
Then, as the Prince visited the Iceland Development Kitchen to sample some products, the Iceland boss was said to have told the chef to show his face.
"Sir Malcolm told him that the Prince needed to be able to hear him speak.
"The whole visit was bizarre, especially as staff had been issued with branded masks before Prince Charles arrived."
And it's not the first time Iceland has hit the headlines - last year the company attracted controversy when a director was sacked after making "shocking" comments about the Welsh language.
Current Welsh Government guidance states that the wearing of face masks in indoor workplaces – even those not open to the public – is a 'reasonable measure' to reduce Covid spread, and that there must be 'strong reasons' for non-compliance.
Iceland Foods has been approached for a comment.
