Editorial 19 March 2024.
Princess Kate seen in Windsor, Rwanda flights in Spring & President Obama visits No 10
Tuesday’s newspaper front pages feature a variety of leads, with pictures of the Princess of Wales out and about a popular splash for the tabloids, and UK politics a hot topic for the broadsheets.
The first pictures of Princess Kate out in public since her surgery made the papers. Some editorials discuss the conspiracy theories and gossip that have swirled on social media since the princess’s surgery and the photoshopping scandal.
Several papers look at the Rwanda Bill – a key Tory policy, whilst others report on the latest from the Labour Party.
Several front pages feature an image of former president Barack Obama, who dropped by No 10 yesterday as a courtesy call.
‘Princess Kate seen in Windsor’
Most papers that lead on the royals are the tabloids, and traditionally right-leaning newspapers. The Daily Mail also managed to get a dig in towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as part of their coverage of Princess Kate.
The Sun front page features the first photo of Princess Kate since she underwent surgery in January. She was spotted, alongside Prince Willaim, at a farm shop in Windsor after “weeks of wild conspiracy theories and online bullying,” says the paper.
The Mail also features the same picture of Prince William and Princess Kate. But the tabloid leads on Harry and Meghan saying they have been “downgraded” on the official Royal Family website due to their profiles being made shorter.
The Daily Express finds room for Vanessa Feltz’s thoughts on Princess Kate. The columnist asks “Why have sane people gone Kate conspiracy weird?”
The Daily Telegraph features an image of Queen Elizabeth II and her great-grandchildren, released by Kensington Palace and taken by the Princess of Wales. The paper says there is evidence this picture was also edited.
The Daily Mirror also reports on Princess Kate. The paper says the Palace is planning Kate’s return to royal duties following her recovery from abdominal surgery.
‘Rwanda flights in Spring’
Away from royal news, several papers report on the latest from the UK political scene. The traditional right-wing media lead on the Rwanda policy whilst left-leaning news looks at Labour and their preparations for taking office in the next general election.
The Express says Rishi Sunak hopes the first deportation flights to Rwanda will take off in the coming months. Up to 200 migrants have already been selected to be among those on the first flights, the paper reports.
But the government’s Rwanda policy faces a “key” test in the House of Lords when peers vote on the legislation this week, according to the Times. The Commons rejected changes to the proposals on Monday but peers from Labour and other parties are expected to try and alter the plans in the Lords.
In other political news, The Metro pokes fun at Rishi Sunak as it features a picture of former US president Barack Obama, saying there is a “Popular leader inside No 10.”
The Daily Telegraph reports Labour’s Rachel Reeves is promising a “1979 moment” – referring to the election of Tory PM Margaret Thatcher. In a speech to be delivered on Tuesday, Reeves is expected to promise a “decade on national renewal” if Labour takes office at the next general election.
The i describes Reeves as ‘channelling Blair’ with a pledge to boost his 1997 growth unit.
The Mirror also leads on Labour. The party’s leader, Sir Keir Starmer, tells the paper’s readers that he “will not let you down” and will “repair the damage caused by years of Tory neglect.”
‘Intermittent fasting’
The Times and the Metro both report on research from scientists on the popular diet – intermittent fasting. It requires people to eat during an eight-hour daily window. The research claims the approach may be linked to an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
