Images of the Queen sitting alone with her thoughts at the funeral of Prince Philip dominate the front pages of the Sunday papers.
Most titles chose to illustrate their royal coverage with pictures of the monarch in the otherwise-deserted quire of St George’s Chapel in Windsor, during a ceremony pared back dramatically due to social distancing.
“The loneliest goodbye”, reckons the Sunday Mirror, while the People has “Alone in her grief” and the Daily Star Sunday has “Bless her”.
Sunday People: Alone in her grief. #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/01SXumQCNv pic.twitter.com/AiCveaPFi9
— The Sunday People (@thesundaypeople) April 17, 2021
The Mail on Sunday says “It was a fitting farewell, Ma’am”, but also reports that the Queen left a handwritten note on the coffin in a “final goodbye” to her “strength and stay”. It also promises in a teasing headline across the top of the front page: “Inside story of how Kate got Harry and Wills talking again”.
MAIL ON SUNDAY: It was a fitting farewell, Ma’am #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/aeQXWoxumW
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Sunday Telegraph deviates slightly with its picture choice, opting to show the Queen watching as her husband’s coffin is lowered down. “Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell”, the headline says. It reports that although her four children were in the chapel, “there was no hand to hold, no reassuring pat on the arm” as the royal mourners were forced to socially distance.
The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph:
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 17, 2021
'Sitting alone, the Queen bids her final farewell'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/UsfUCzOFqm pic.twitter.com/Iu4KVGRMo8
The Sunday Times has a close-up of the masked monarch with the headline “Forced to mourn alone, the Queen bids Philip goodbye”.
SUNDAY TIMES: Forced to mourn alone, the Queen bids Philip goodbye #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/dKiOxheMov
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Observer has “Queen alone with her thoughts as Duke is laid to rest”. However, it is the only London edition not to lead on the funeral, splashing instead on “Act now on sleaze crisis or lose red wall votes, Johnson warned”.
Despite most papers insisting the Queen was alone with her thoughts the Sunday Express headline is “You’re not alone Ma’am”, pledging her the nation’s support.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: You’re not alone Ma’am #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/S8LRhZ3Vcb
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
Scotland on Sunday says “Philip’s fitting farewell” and the Sunday Mail in Scotland says “Goodbye my love”.
SUNDAY MAIL: Goodbye My Love #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/eyejwkhuUC
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 17, 2021
The Glasgow-based Herald on Sunday has a small picture of Princes William and Harry at the funeral, but opts to lead with “Scottish motorists get green light for compensation over emissions scandal”.
