Mourning Queen Elizabeth II, Front Page by Front Page
Mourning Queen Elizabeth II, Front Page by Front Page
Tracing the images that defined the days following the monarch’s death — and filled the covers of British newspapers.
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Throughout the mourning period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I found myself constantly turning to the front pages of the UK’s newspapers. It’s a medium that is near and dear to my heart, having spent the first 15 years of my career in newspaper newsrooms. A daily paper is often referred to as the first draft of history; I love the moment in time it captures, created with — and through — the emotions of the day, all while under the pressure of a looming print deadline.
In an age of bottomless online content, I also appreciate the confines a physical paper presents. As a reporter, you must fit your piece into the allotted space on the page. The same goes for photographs; particularly on days with big stories, one image carries the page.
So it’s through that newspaper-girl lens that I watched the long-planned and impeccably choreographed mourning of the Queen. It is clear, particularly in hindsight, how carefully the Firm staged each day with the visuals front and center. The royal family was deployed strategically, with cameras following them closely, in such a way to steer each day’s narrative and hold the public’s interest.
But ultimately the coverage of any given moment was in the hands of the media, the reporters and photographers charged with documenting and editing down the events. That last bit — curating — is becoming a lost art in the more-is-more social media landscape. All day, every day, images and anecdotes about the royal family filled my Twitter and Instagram feeds. It was dizzying. Which is perhaps why I grew so attached to the newspaper front pages, whittling the events down to one headline and a single image.
In processing the history we have all just witnessed, I decided to go back through the front pages I shared in real-time on Instagram. Online, I shared an array of news outlets to show the range. Below, I have edited myself, selecting just one that best summed up the story of the day. (A little BTS: There is a great culture in the UK of sharing front pages the night before on Twitter, which is where I found them. Highly recommend if this is your thing!)
As you scroll through this, please keep in mind that the royal family and the British media have been involved in an elaborate dance for as long as they have both existed. The Firm needs the media to publicize their work (although perhaps slightly less so now that social media gives the family its own platform). The media, in return, knows that the Windsors are an endless source of highly read stories, which means more clicks, viewers, and papers sold. Both sides play a part in spinning, too, which has done considerable harm for a very long time. But the front pages shared below have a decidedly pro-monarchy sentiment. I think it speaks to how deeply rooted the royal family is in the cultural identity of the U.K.
Is there a front page that you found particularly notable? Have you bought any papers to keep as mementos from this last week? Please hit “Join the Discussion” and share in the comments of this newsletter.
ICYMI: My Instagram coverage of the mourning period is saved in the highlights of my profile page, @EHolmes.
Mourning the Queen, Front Page by Front Page
(Note: The dates listed here are when the events happened; the covers are for the editions sold the following day.)
Thursday, September 8
The royal family shared the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on social media at the same moment as news outlets around the world broke the story. “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” read the straightforward text on Twitter and Instagram. It was accompanied by a black-and-white portrait of the Queen, seated and seen from the shoulders up. The picture was taken in 2006 for the monarch’s 80th birthday by photographer Jane Bown, who has since passed away but was a fellow octogenarian at the time. “Bown is known for her unpretentious technique, working at speed, using only available light, and for working in black and white rather than colour,” according to the Royal Collection Trust.
The photo was so well chosen, in my estimation, because of the particular note it strikes. Elizabeth II was gone but in this shot she feels close. Her gaze is reflective but not sad, with bright eyes and a soft, closed-mouth smile. She looks very much at peace.
My guess is that the image was given to the newspapers to use as well, because it was splashed across the cover of the Friday editions of the Times, the Telegraph, the Daily Express, and the Sun. When a the same photograph is used across publications like this, the design becomes the differentiator. My favorite was the small quote from the Queen that the Telegraph chose to pair with the image: “Grief is the price we pay for love.”
Friday, September 9
The narrative shifted on Friday from the late monarch to the new sovereign. King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla made their public debut, beginning with a walkabout outside Buckingham Palace. They greeted mourners who had gathered and admired the flowers left in tribute. Later, Charles delivered his first speech, in which he shared the news that William and Catherine were the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
Picking which of those two appearances was the defining moment of the day is a true toss-up to me. After some thought, I found myself gravitating more towards the photos of Charles in the crowd. Seeing how he was received, so soon after the death of his mother, was quite an emotional moment for him. My favorite was the unique angle captured by Charlie Bibby, chief photographer of the Financial Times, which saw the new monarch reaching into the crowd with a fixed gaze and the gates of Buckingham Palace open behind him. The headline was one of the most memorable quotes from his speech — “I shall endeavor to serve with loyalty, respect and love” — which nicely brought both moments of the day together.
Saturday, September 10
After staying out of sight for nearly two days, the Queen’s descendants emerged en masse Saturday to view tributes and greet mourners. But a certain foursome got the most attention. The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised the crowds at Windsor with a walkabout. It was the first joint engagement in years for the two couples; the sight of them together raised new hopes for reconciliation.
I will admit, I was surprised. We knew Harry and Meghan were visiting the UK and staying at their Windsor home; we also knew Will and Kate had just moved nearby. But I did not imagine a world where they would take the same car to greet the same crowd.
Making this appearance on a Saturday meant that the images would fill the Sunday papers — the biggest edition of the week. The headlines felt designed to tug at the heartstrings, with phrases like “Reunited in Sorrow” (The Sunday Telegraph) and “Reunited for Granny” (the Sunday Mirror.) I was most drawn to the shot use on the cover of both the Mirror and the Sunday Express. The two couples rounded a corner, making it easier to get all four into the frame. It was also the brief moment when Will put his hand on Kate’s back.
Sunday, September 11
On Sunday, the story turned back to the Queen when the public got its first heartbreaking glimpse of her coffin. It quickly became a familiar sight but those first looks were staggering. The definitive image of the day was the transfer of Her Majesty’s coffin to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The pallbearers struggled under the immense weight, which seemed to represent the gravity of the moment.
Several newspapers, including the Telegraph and the Guardian, cropped the image in to show the sadness and strain of the men’s faces. The human element was extremely compelling, but, to me, took away a bit from the coffin itself. I preferred the zoomed-out shot used by Metro showing the coffin and the men in their full uniforms.
Monday, September 12
Looking back, the events that unfolded in Scotland were a bit of a primer for what would happen when the Queen’s coffin returned to London. On Monday, the monarch’s four children — Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward — staged the first of what would be two vigils around their mother’s coffin. It was particularly moving to see Anne up there, the first time a woman had participated in this type of royal vigil. The tradition dates back to 1936 and the death of King George V. His four sons donned their military uniforms and quietly surrounded his coffin in what became known as the Vigil of the Princes.
Sadly, the Princess Royal is hard to see in most of the photographs from this moment — my guess is the cameras were stationed in just one spot? Worth noting that Andrew is almost entirely hidden.
Even if they weren’t all visible, this was the first time all four of the Queen’s children were in the same space, as well as the first look at Charles as a grieving king. “We Will Watch Over You,” read the Mirror headline; I liked how visible Anne was and the personal touch of the Daily Express headline: “Lost in Grief for ‘Darling Mama.’” (The last bit — “Darling Mama” — was taken from Charles’s televised address on Friday.)
Tuesday, September 13
The Queen’s coffin traveled back to London on Tuesday, accompanied by the Princess Royal. The day was filled with moving images; I’ll never forget watching the BBC livestream as the RAF airplane took off. But nothing could compare to the sight of the hearse traveling through the streets of London. The vehicle had been specially designed, with Elizabeth II’s input, to include large windows and special lights. It meant that even in the dark of night, she could be seen. The shots of the hearse driving up to Buckingham Palace were among my favorite of the week. So much of the scene was planned but Mother Nature added the finishing touch in the form of rain.
The Sun headline felt the most fitting: “Welcome Home, Ma’am.”
Wednesday, September 14
Wednesday saw the first of what would be three processionals through the streets of London, beginning with the journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall. The Queen’s four children and her three eldest grandsons marched solemnly behind her coffin. The end of the procession also included a brief service at Westminster Hall, which gave photographers the first chance to document the entire royal family in one place.
By this moment in the mourning period, the coverage had waded beyond grief and into the complicated, charged territory of why Princes Andrew and Harry were not in uniform. Tensions were high and I can understand the desire to depict that with a front-page picture. The Mirror and the Sun chose the photograph of Will, Kate, Harry, and Meghan leaving the service with pained expressions. But for me, the winning image ran on the cover of The Times, which showed the salute at Westminster at the end of the procession. There in the foreground is the coffin topped with the crown; but the viewer’s eye is drawn to first Harry and then Andrew, in morning suits instead of military uniforms. Instead of saluting, their heads are bowed.
Thursday, September 15
William and Kate made their way to Sandringham on Thursday to view tributes left outside the late monarch’s country residence. The prince, now next in line to the throne, ensured his spot on the front pages the next day by sharing small glimpses into how he was feeling.
These tidbits, because they are doled out so sparingly, are always news. I am fascinated by this strategy, which it is important to note is not specific to William (I think most members of the royal family have done this). Rather than say something directly to a journalist on the scene, William divulged the sentiment to someone in the crowd. The reporter would have had to overhear it (which I think is what happened here) or later interview the person who he talked to (which happens quite often, too). It adds a perceived authenticity and an intimacy to the sentiment.
Pictures of the Queen’s grieving grandson ran along with his quotes, which made for emotional headlines: “The Queen Was Everyone’s Grandmother” (The Daily Express) and “Don’t Cry…You’ll Start Me Off” (Metro). I was most drawn to his comments, highlighted by the Daily Mail, about walking behind the Queen’s coffin and how it reminded him of his mother’s funeral procession. It was on so many of our minds; he was very smart to address it as he did. What a sweet and subtle way to keep his mother’s memory in the mix.
Friday, September 16
By Friday, the queue for the Lying-in-State was the talk of London town. It made for the best fodder, an ever-evolving 24/7 story about how long the line was at any given time and who had decided to stand in it. Even David Beckham waited his turn! You couldn’t script this if you wanted to. It was a brilliant, visual display of the affection Her Majesty enjoyed and a chance for hundreds of thousands to pay their respects.
THE QUEUE, in all caps as I came to think of it, could have been its own image for the front pages. But Friday night the Queen’s children staged a second vigil, similar to the one they had done in Scotland. Once again, Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward surrounded their mother’s coffin and stood, heads bowed, for all the world to see. The vigil dominated the front pages, with most newspapers opting for a close-up view showing the new King and his siblings. I, however, appreciated the zoomed out vantage point on the cover of the Sun, which captured the magnitude of the queue as the mourners shuffled past the royal family. “King and Country Say Farewell,” read the headline.
Saturday, September 17
Typically two vigils in a row would run the risk of too-similar images on back-to-back front pages. But the slow, solemn, lock-step entrance of the Queen’s eight grandchildren on Saturday, staging the second vigil in as many nights, made a compelling photograph on its own. It was a chance to see nearly all of their faces (the Daily Mail was the only publication I saw to feature the shot where all eight were visible as they headed down the stairs). With apologies to Peter Phillips, the Queen’s eldest grandchild whose face was hidden, I preferred the pictures from the few paces the group took before they found their places. Lined up with almost military precision, William leads the pack with Harry just behind — in a uniform, at last. The Telegraph headline declared, “Together for Granny.”
(As an aside: In the debate between “Granny” versus “Grannie” this week, I think it’s worth noting that the newspapers all went with “Granny” in their headlines.)
Sunday, September 18
New photographs of the royal family’s engagements on Sunday were few and far between. For the first time all week, I wondered what would fill the front pages for Monday, the day of the Queen’s funeral.
I got my answer late in the afternoon (which means really late in London): A previously unseen portrait of the late monarch. Buckingham Palace released a photograph of Elizabeth II taken back in May to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. As I said on Instagram — you can read my full breakdown here — it was a fitting final image.
With the same photograph on nearly all the front pages, the newspapers competed on headlines alone. “God Bless,” read the Sun, while the Telegraph went with “A Life of Selfless Service.” I preferred the Mirror, which went with “Happy & Glorious,” lyrics from the UK’s national anthem that seemed to radiate from the picture.
Monday, September 19
The extended mourning period built in the grandest of fashions to Monday for the state funeral and committal service. Watching the livestream in the early hours from Los Angeles was overwhelming: There was the procession, the funeral, the second procession, the drive to Windsor, the third procession. At each turn I thought: This is it! This is the shot of the day ...only to think a few minutes later: No, this is it! Wait, no, this is the shot everyone will use!
SO MANY IMAGES.
The front page photo editors had their work cut out for them. Luckily, many had double the space, dedicating the front and back pages to funeral coverage, too. The pairing of the pictures made for a powerful shot/chaser effect.
After much contemplation, I cannot pick just one. I can’t! So I have chosen two, for the different ways in which they captured the scene we watched unfold.
The Mirror used two close-up photographs that showed both sides of Elizabeth II. The cover went to Jeff J. Mitchell’s instantly-iconic capture of the pallbearers making their way up the steps of St. George’s Chapel for the Committal Service. Their hands, particularly the gloved ones, combined with the chaos of the flowers, the glimpse of the Imperial State Crown and the Orb, made it such a visual feast. But it’s the pitch of the coffin, pointing upwards as if towards heaven, that makes this picture unforgettable for me. On the back is a shot of one of the Queen’s corgis, which was brought out as part of the Windsor send-off. The pup’s face looks forlorn on the curb, a sinking counterpoint to the coffin angle. I was moved by the pair, showing both her towering place in history and the human she was at heart.
The Sun is a very close second with two zoomed-out shots from Windsor. After the formality of the State Funeral at Westminster Abbey and the lengthy procession through London, the trip through the vibrant green English country felt like an exhale. Throngs of people lined the Long Walk, but the grass and the trees seemed to soften the shots. I love the outstretched arms as the procession drove by, paired with the Sun’s headline, “We sent her victorious” (a twist on the line from God Save the Queen: “Send her victorious”). It seemed to credit the whole country for the farewell watched around the world. On the back was another wide-ish shot, this time from inside St. George’s Chapel as the Queen’s coffin was lowered out of sight. One last look at Her Majesty.
Is there a front page that caught your eye? Please hit “Join the Discussion” and share in the comments of this newsletter.
I will see you back in your inboxes later this week. Take care, friends.
PS: If you are looking for more on the life and legacy of Elizabeth II, here is a link to the pieces I wrote and interviews I gave following her death. Thank you to the journalists who reached out, I very much enjoyed these chats.
(Header photo via by Dinendra Haria/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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