Newspaper headlines: 'Her final journey' and Russia's 'revenge attacks'
- Published
Solemn tributes to the beginning of the Queen's final journey dominate Monday's front pages.
Reports suggest that the Queen's coffin was made more than 30 years ago
All of the front pages feature pictures of the late Queen's coffin being carried by members of the Royal Company of Archers in Edinburgh and most headlines refer to her "final" and "saddest journey".
The Daily Mail says she left Balmoral to morning birdsong, external, the muted sobs of her devoted staff, and Glen Gelder, a favourite lament played by a lone piper. A report in The Daily Telegraph describes people waiting for a glimpse of the coffin, external along the route to Edinburgh. It says "ripples of applause broke out, heads were bowed, eyes misted over".
Under the headline "Five-mile queue for Queen", The Times says more than 750,000 people, external are expected to file pass her coffin in Westminster Hall, during her lying-in-state. The paper says queueing times could reach 20 hours. As many as 10,000 police officers will be deployed and up to 1,500 soldiers will be available to help control the crowds.
According to The Guardian, foreign heads of state arriving for the funeral on Monday of next week have been told they must travel by bus to Westminster Abbe, externaly, rather than using private cars. The paper says it has seen government documents urging dozens of presidents, kings, queens and prime ministers to travel by commercial flights, to avoid swamping London airports. The instructions will pose a problem for President Biden, who is likely to require a significant amount of additional security.
A report in The Times says the Queen's heavy coffin was made more than 30 years ago, external from English oak. It is also lined with lead, which means it's extremely heavy and will be carried by eight military bearers on the day of the funeral.
An editorial in The Sun praises senior members of the Royal Family for what it calls their flawless response, external to the Queen's death, with King Charles making a seamless transition from prince to monarch, and William and Kate magnanimously inviting Harry and Meghan to the impromptu walkabout in Windsor despite their very public rift. But the paper warns that Harry has an autobiography coming out which is "bound to sling more mud."
The Daily Express is one of a number of papers reporting that the late Queen's two corgis will be looked after by Prince Andrew, external and his daughter Princess Beatrice. According to The Daily Star, Queen Camilla will assume the oversight of 24 race horses, external and some 80 blood mares, which King Charles has inherited from his mother.
The Guardian highlights the recent significant advances by the Ukrainian army, external against the Russia in the north east. The paper says Ukraine had quietly amassed forces in the region, while the Russian military intelligence failed to spot the build-up. A senior Ukrainian commander told The Financial Times that he was surprised by what he called Russian troops' "cowardly behaviour", external. He said they fled Ukrainian advances in such a hurry that meals were still set on canteen tables and there were stashes of ammunition and weaponry near the trenches.
Another story in the FT reports that China has turned into a major competitor to the IMF in recent years, giving tens of billions of dollars in secretive emergency loans, external to countries at risk of financial crises. Data collected by a research lab at the William & Mary University in the US shows that Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Argentina have been the biggest recipients of the lending. According to the paper China's loans exacerbate the problems of debt-distressed countries, because unlike the IMF Beijing does not demand reforms.
