A photo shared on Twitter allegedly shows a column in The Guardian by British journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown saying she will leave the country if the “balcony is still white” at King Charles III’s coronation.
— Pugh Himple (@GBullstein) May 9, 2023
Verdict: False
The photo is digitally fabricated. Alibhai-Brown has not written for The Guardian since 2016.
Fact Check:
King Charles III became the oldest royal to ascend the British throne at 74 years old, according to Insider. More than 20 million British viewers tuned in to watch his coronation last week, but it was still 9 million less in viewership than his mother’s funeral last year, CNN reported.
The photo allegedly shows a column from Alibhai-Brown in the style of The Guardian regarding the Royal Family’s race. The alleged column features a low-res photo of Alibhai-Brown.
“If the balcony is still white at William’s coronation,” the alleged headline reads. “I’m leaving the country,”
This image is digitally fabricated, however. Check Your Fact found no credible news reports about Alibhai-Brown making such a statement. She did, however, post a May 8 column in the i news newspaper titled, “After the coronation, it’s clear King Charles simply cannot embrace diversity.”
Alibhai-Brown has not written for The Guardian since 2016 according to her profile on the publication’s website. Likewise, a search of the headline on The Guardian’s website yields no results for the alleged statement. (RELATED: Did The Guardian Post A Story About The ‘Funny Shaped Eyes’ Of The Japanese Royal Family?)
Check Your Fact reached out to The Guardian and Alibhai-Brown for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received from either source.