What the papers say – April 18
Most of the nation’s front pages feature the same photo – the Queen sitting alone as she farewells her husband of 73 years, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Sunday Mirror splashes with the picture with a headline of “The loneliest goodbye”.
Sunday Mirror front page: The loneliest goodbye. #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/BA3MukpI5K pic.twitter.com/KVRIc4bBvh
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) April 17, 2021
Her Majesty is “truly alone” for the first time in 73 years, says the Daily Star Sunday.
Tomorrow's front page: Bless Her #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/mOJgAdI6lG pic.twitter.com/IaKGrkBFX8
— Daily Star (@dailystar) April 17, 2021
And the Sunday Express carries the photo but assures the Queen “You’re not alone Ma’am”, saying the nation shares her grief.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: You’re not alone Ma’am #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/S8LRhZ3Vcb
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Observer runs the photo on its front, but its main story concerns warnings to Boris Johnson that he must act now on the Government’s “sleaze crisis” over lobbying and alleged cronyism.
Tomorrow’s front page pic.twitter.com/T207htYz4f
— The Observer (@ObserverUK) April 17, 2021
Similarly, The Independent has the photo of the monarch over a lead story saying David Cameron prevented funding being cut to his legacy project while Prime Minister despite the fact it was failing to meet targets.
INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Cameron ‘intervened’ to stop legacy project cuts #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/k9Tt5q9MWK
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Sunday Times carries a wrap-around pictorial special from the funeral on its front and back pages. It also reports the Queen was “forced to mourn alone”, with another Whitehall lead saying Mr Cameron sought access to NHS data at the height of the first coronavirus wave.
THE SUNDAY TIMES: Funeral of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/d8UIVWkwZP
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
SUNDAY TIMES: Forced to mourn alone, the Queen bids Philip goodbye #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/dKiOxheMov
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Sunday Telegraph runs a wider overhead shot from the funeral showing the Duke’s coffin with the Queen in the background, while filling the rest of its front page with a report from the ceremony.
TELEGRAPH: Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/2x0a2W8cHt
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Sunday People has a sombre and dark front page bearing a close-up of the Queen in her black facemask, its headline saying simply “Alone in her grief”.
Sunday People: Alone in her grief. #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/01SXumQCNv pic.twitter.com/AiCveaPFi9
— The Sunday People (@thesundaypeople) April 17, 2021
And the Mail on Sunday echoes that sentiment with a front page headline of “It was a fitting farewell, Ma’am”.
MAIL ON SUNDAY: It was a fitting farewell, Ma’am #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/aeQXWoxumW
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021