London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Oct 31, 2026

Newspaper headlines: 'Our last farewell' and 'thank you ma'am'

Newspaper headlines: 'Our last farewell' and 'thank you ma'am'

Monday's front pages are wholly dedicated to Queen Elizabeth ahead of her state funeral in Westminster.

The Daily Telegraph carries the same photo of the Queen taken at Windsor Castle in May. The paper notes that she is wearing aquamarine clip brooches given to her by her parents on her 18th birthday in 1944.


The i sums up the day with its headline: "World's farewell to Elizabeth II". It says hundreds of thousands are gathering in London for the biggest state funeral in history, with billions expected to watch around the globe.


The Metro has a simple but striking front page, depicting the Queen in her younger years alongside the words: "Thank you Ma'am".


The Daily Mail leads on King Charles saying he was "moved beyond measure" by the UK's outpouring of grief at his mother's death. It marries a photograph of the Queen waving with its headline: "Our last farewell".


The Times leads on the same story with the headline "Charles gives thanks" alongside a picture of him sharing a lighter moment with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace on Sunday. Elsewhere, the paper reports that about 10,000 police officers will be on duty today, as more than two million people are expected to descend on the capital.


The Guardian picks out details from the funeral plans, saying Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who are now second and third in line to the throne, will follow their parents - the Prince and Princess of Wales - as the Queen's coffin is carried through Westminster Abbey.


Never passing up the opportunity for word play, the Daily Star leads on the UK holding a one-minute silence for the Queen with the headline: "Kingdom United!"


The Financial Times devotes the top of its front page to a black and white photograph of the Queen lying in state. However, its main story is about the downturn in the stock market causing "the longest drought in US technology listings this century".

A final portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appears on many of the front pages. The photograph, taken in May, shows her smiling, dressed in pale blue, wearing her characteristic pearls. It's captioned "Happy and Glorious" in the Daily Mirror, in the Daily Express: "Farewell our Glorious Queen", The Daily Telegraph: "A life of selfless service." The Sun frames the image in black, with the headline "God Bless".

The i looks ahead to what it says will be the "biggest state funeral in history" that'll be watched by billions around the world. The Daily Mail estimates that four billion - or half the planet's population - will see it. It picks up the Queen's global recognition in its front page headline "the world prepares to join our last farewell".

The Financial Times puts forward the view that no-one can emulate the Queen's levels of soft power. It suggests that a post-imperial and post-Brexit UK will need to seek and nurture other sources.

The Guardian notes that the Queen's great grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will walk behind her coffin. The Telegraph suggests they'll be the youngest children to take a central role in such an occasion. A source tells the Mail that their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, thought "long and hard" about whether the nine and seven-year-olds should attend.

The Daily Star speaks on its front page of the "Kingdom United" as millions joined a minute of silence last night in memory of the Queen. While the Sun pays tribute to what it describes as the more than 400,000 souls who devotedly braved the wait to see her coffin.

In other news, there's more speculation about the budget - with the Sun suggesting Liz Truss plans to cut the basic rate of income tax to 19p in the pound. The Times reports on economic analysis that suggests the aim to lower national insurance contributions will leave the poorest three million households only 63p better off each month.

The Express says the UK is bracing for a rise in flu cases after a spike in Australia. And there's a warning in the Star that the price of milk could soon exceed that of petrol per litre.

Finally the Mail says there's been a run on black hats in London ahead of the funeral. The paper suggests that even Princess Beatrice was affected by the shortage, being turned away empty handed from a department store in Bond Street.


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Prepares Enhanced Artificial Intelligence Safety and Cyber Defense Frameworks
United Kingdom Government Expands International Sanctions Framework Against Russian Shadow Fleet and Financial Enablers
Institute of Directors Reports Sharp Post-Budget Drop in Business Confidence Despite Long-Term Investment Intention Shifts
Chancellor John Healey Defends Sweeping Fiscal Adjustments and Household Support Packages Following Autumn Budget
Parliamentary Petitions Committee Schedules Major Legislative Debates on Special Educational Needs and Non-Stun Meat Labelling
Regional Devolution and Good Growth Fund Frameworks Reshape Local Government Funding Across English Regions
Loughborough University Economic Analysts Highlight Substantial Uncertainty Surrounding Public Sector Efficiency Savings
British Legal Sector Drives Sixty Billion Pounds in Annual Economic Output While Employing Over Half a Million Professionals
Law Society Welcomes New Better Regulation Executive While Pressing for Long-Term Legal Aid Funding Reform
Metropolitan Police and Security Services Heighten Operations Across London Ahead of Large-Scale Public Demonstrations
Bank of England Economists Scrutinize Corporate Tax Adjustments and Public Sector Borrowing Pressures
Chancellor John Healey Defends Autumn Budget Tax and Spending Allocations Following Intense Parliamentary Scrutiny
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Implements Strict Water Quality Monitoring Rules Following Severe Rainfall and Flooding
Welsh Government Unveils Comprehensive Regional Housing Strategy to Address Rural Affordability and Homelessness Pressures in Cardiff
Office for National Statistics Reports Slowing Consumer Price Inflation and Steady Retail Performance Across United Kingdom Markets
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly Advance Cross-Border Infrastructure Agreement in Belfast
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Investigation Into Artificial Intelligence Partnerships Involving Major Technology Corporations
Scottish First Minister John Swinney Secures Cross-Party Support for Devolved Budget Framework and Renewable Energy Expansion
High Court Rules in Favor of Environmental Campaigners Over Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Licensing Procedures
National Health Service England Announces Major Digital Modernization and Artificial Intelligence Diagnostic Rollout Across Regional Trusts
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Signals Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Cuts Amid Persistent Wage Growth and Inflation Pressures
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves Outline Strategic Infrastructure Plans to Boost Regional Growth and Private Investment
Water pollution remains high despite £5bn investment
Regional Economic Divergence and Industrial Transformation
Technological Sovereignty and Regulatory Scrutiny
Fiscal Consolidation and Public Service Pressures
Automotive Industry Leadership Warns of Imminent Supply Chain Disruptions Following Recent European Trade Negotiations
High Court Delivers Landmark Ruling Affirming Strict Legal Protections for Corporate Data Privacy Against State Surveillance
Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan Secures Additional Funding for Regional Transport Infrastructure and Rail Modernization
Scottish First Minister John Swinney Announces Major Green Energy Infrastructure Investment Package for Aberdeen
Department for Work and Pensions Proposes Sweeping Welfare Reforms to Incentivize Long-Term Unemployed Back into Work
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Investigation into Artificial Intelligence Partnerships Involving Major Tech Giants
United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy Concludes High-Level Strategic Talks in Washington on Middle East Security
National Health Service England Unveils Emergency Winter Resilience Plan to Combat Projected Surge in Emergency Admissions
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey Signals Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Cuts Amid Persistent Inflation
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves Finalizes Corporate Tax Overhaul Ahead of Autumn Budget to Fund Public Services
Automotive Manufacturers Urge Government Action as High Energy Costs and Global Supply Chain Disruptions Threaten Production
Metropolitan Police Issue Formal Apology Following Inadvertent Release of Confidential Information During High-Profile Investigation
Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison Unveils Devolved Budget Highlighting Housing and Public Service Adjustments
Energy Regulator Office of Gas and Electricity Markets Prepares to Remove Household Gas Standing Charges Following Treasury Mandate
Treasury Confirms Reversal of Planned Cash Individual Savings Account Allowance Reduction Protecting Twenty Thousand Pound Limit
Office for Budget Responsibility Revisions Predict Moderate United Kingdom Economic Growth with Elevated Inflation Pressures
Chancellor John Healey Delivers First Autumn Budget in Parliament Highlighting Temporary Bank Surcharge and Cost-of-Living Support
Met Office Issues Extended Forecast Highlighting Stable High Pressure Weather Patterns Across the United Kingdom
Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison Outlines Changes to Tax Thresholds and Residential Property Levies in Edinburgh
Financial Markets and Government Bond Yields Remain Stable Following Muted Reaction to Autumn Budget Measures
Defence Committee Chair Tan Dhesi Criticizes Budget for Delaying Critical Defence Spending Decisions to Next Year
International Monetary Fund Forecasts United Kingdom Economic Growth at One Point Three Percent for Year
Office for Budget Responsibility Assesses Fiscal Headroom Reduced to Fifteen Billion Pounds Following Global Energy Shocks
Chancellor John Healey Delivers First Autumn Budget Introducing Household Energy Support and Bank Tax Hikes
×