Many of Monday’s early editions carry the first official image of the Princess of Wales following her surgery – although these versions of the front pages were published before a storm blew up over the picture. Under the headline “Smiles Better”, the paper says Catherine thanked the public for their support following her abdominal procedure earlier this year. But the photo has since been withdrawn by four news agencies, amid concerns about manipulation, so it will be interesting to see how many of the front pages change their tack in later-published editions.
The Daily Telegraph was quick enough to react by changing its front page for an early edition, with the headline “Photo from palace was doctored, say agencies”. The paper does add the caveat: “There is no suggestion that the picture misrepresents the Princess or her children, or that she is not in as good health as she appears.”
“Thank you” is the headline on the front of Monday’s Daily Mirror which also has a file image of a beaming Prince William – who took the photo of their three children and his wife. Elsewhere on the tabloid, Brianna Ghey’s mum Esther gives an emotional interview to the paper as she discusses meeting with her daughter’s killer’s family. She said meeting Scarlett Jenkinson’s mother and uncle which was “important to understand how they were as a family”.
The Daily Mail questions whether or not the image of the Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis has backfired amid growing speculation on Sunday before three photo agencies withdrew the picture. The tabloid’s lead story accuses nearly 200 town halls of doubling their spending on what it brands “ridiculous woke jobs”, citing figures from the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
Britain is facing an alarming rise in intimidation and threats of violence against those perceived to have insulted Islam, according to the lead story in Monday’s Times. In other UK news, the paper has a side story on what it describes are Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a “powerful new executive cabinet” and mission boards to focus on Labour’s priorities after the general election.
An image of a family in Rafah, southern Gaza, dominates the front of the Guardian newspaper as it highlights the thousands who will be spending Ramadan in makeshift camps as the Israel-Gaza conflict continues. Elsewhere, the paper’s lead story focuses on three Conservative former home secretaries – Dame Priti Patel, Sir Sajid Javid and Amber Rudd – who each warn against politicising anti-extremism just before Michael Gove unveils official definition of extremism.
In its lead story on Monday, the Daily Express says the Prime Minister has told the paper in an exclusive interview it is “common sense that where people can work, they should”. Rishi Sunak has also vowed to “turbocharge growth” by cutting what the tabloid describes as Britain’s “ballooning benefits bill”.
The photograph of the Princess of Wales and her three children also appears on the front of the i newspaper, alongside a headline for another story “Public wants more open monarchy”. The paper’s lead story claims a “flawed” system has cost the government £71m causing errors and delays in the Home Office department – and the paper says the malfunctions have left staff in tears. The Home Office defended the Atlas system saying IT issues occur in a “minority of cases” and insist they are resolved as a “priority”.
An image of people fleeing Haiti dominates the front of the Financial Times as the paper reflects on news the US airlifted some embassy staff from the country where a state of emergency was declared following an escalation in gang violence. The splash story centres on a fresh poll showing challenges facing US president Joe Biden as his re-election campaign gears up.
Finally, the Daily Star quotes Lyon-born linguist Bernard Cerquiglini who reckons “English doesn’t exist” and says we are all speaking “badly pronounced French” – just like Officer Crabtree from ‘Allo ‘Allo! who is pictured on the front of the tabloid.
Many of the early editions of Monday’s front pages feature a photo of the Princess of Wales and her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – which has since been withdrawn by three major international news agencies over concerns it was “manipulated”.
Some newspapers appear to take the photograph at face value including the Daily Mirror which calls it a Mother’s Day happy snap of recovering Kate – though online it points out it had been recalled.
The Daily Express describes it as a “charming photo” which proves the Princess of Wales on the mend.
But, the Daily Telegraph homes in on the so-called “Kill Notice” issued by the agencies, which tells papers not to use it. The paper reports social media users had pointed out a number of issues with the picture – such as leaves on a background tree and no wedding ring on Catherine’s hand.
The Daily Mail says what was meant to be a reassuring picture – months after Catherine’s abdominal surgery – may have backfired.
Image source, Prince of Wales
In other news, The Times reports new research which suggests there’s been an “alarming” rise in threats of violence against people perceived as insulting Islam. The independent report commissioned by the government’s counter-extremism “czar” also exposed links between activists at the forefront of protests in Britain, and an extremist radical Islamic Party in Pakistan.
The Guardian has more on the joint call for politicians not to use the issue of extremism for point-scoring.
According to the i newspaper, faulty IT at the Home Office – which cost the government £71m – is hindering efforts to tackle immigration. It says the flawed Atlas system is said to be blocking applications for British citizenship, and leaving “sobbing” Home Office staff locked out of vital casework.
Finally, the Financial Times says a joint survey it carried out shows US President Joe Biden is struggling to be given credit for a growing economic feel-good factor in America.
