Kate’s cancer shock as she reassures the nation & massacre in Moscow – the full perspective
Almost all of the UK’s front pages continue their coverage of the Princess of Wales who on Friday revealed she’s undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy. Many papers look to the public’s reaction to the news and William and Kate thanking the nation for their support.
Elsewhere, the massacre at a Moscow concert finds space on the front page, with the Sunday papers reporting on the topic from several angles – including warnings for the Russian president not to use the terrorist attack as a reason to intensify the Ukrainian war. At least 130 people were killed in the attack, and so far four people have been arrested.
‘Princess Kate’s cancer shock as the nation reacts’
Princess Kate – What Happened?
- On Friday Princess Kate announced she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy
- She said cancer had been found during her major abdominal surgery in January
- The cancer news came as a shock to the royals who had initially been told there was no cancer
- Kate has been heavily criticised since the surgery – online and in US media – with conspiracy theories swirling online
- Recently, Kate admitted to editing a Mother’s Day image of herself and her children, which sparked a major backlash in US media
- People were suggesting the princess had died, or was being hidden away by the royal and that graining images of Kate out and about were all ‘fake’
- Kate released the video announcing her cancer and has asked for privacy for herself and her family
The Sunday Times reports a close friend of Kate told the paper that the princess felt a video statement of her cancer news would be the “most compassionate way” to deliver the news, believing a written statement would be “too jarring.” The paper’s headline notes Kate ‘wrote every word to reassure the nation’.
The Sunday Telegraph says Prince William is proud of the “courage and strength” shown by his wife. The Sun on Sunday reports that Kate had a “heart to heart” with her father-in-law King Charles the day before the video was released. The King is also undergoing cancer treatment. The paper reports insiders have told them that Charles left the meeting at Windsor Castle feeling “emotional.”
The Sunday Express reports that Kate boarded a helicopter with her family yesterday for a “much-needed break.” The Sunday Mirror suggests the family were heading to Amner Hall – their home in Norfolk. The Mail on Sunday says the family are known for enjoying outdoorsy activities there including walking and cycling. The paper says that Princess Kate may persuade her children to indulge in her love of cold-water swimming.
The Sunday Telegraph looks at Kate’s diagnosis from another angle, suggesting it is part of an epidemic of people getting cancer aged under 50. The paper says there is a “scramble to establish the trend”. Speaking to The Observer, Professor Andrew Beggs says the rise could be down to doctors getting better at spotting the condition and younger people being more perceptive about their health than previous generations.
The Sunday People reports Mila Sneddon’s “touching message of hope” for Kate as she battles cancer. The eight-year-old said: “She will be brave because I was and she will fight it like I did.”
The Daily Star Sunday leads on celebrities apologising to Kate for joining in on the gossip, bullying and spreading the conspiracy theories around her.
‘Moscow mass shooting’
Moscow massacre – what happened?
- On Friday a mass shooting at a packed concert hall in Russia, carried out by four people, claimed the lives of at least 133 people
- Men in camouflage broke into the concert hall, opened fire, and set the crowded venue ablaze. The death toll is expected to rise.
- ISIS have claimed responsibility for the attack
- 11 people have been arrested, including the suspected four gunmen
- Vladimir Putin called the attack a barbaric act of terrorism and vowed to punish the perpetrators. He also accused Ukraine of preparing a “window” to help the suspects escape. Kyiv has staunchly denied any role in the attack
The Sunday Times suggests Putin has “no easy options” when considering how to respond to the mass shooting. The paper says he is likely to crack down on Central Asian militants. But the paper says many are needed to do jobs that many Russians do not want to do. Any “thuggish repression”, it says, could force many Central Asians to leave.
The Sunday Telegraph reports on the Moscow attack but chooses to lead on a warning to the Kremlin from an unnamed “senior Whitehall security source” that it should not use the event as an “excuse” to “intensify its war on Ukraine”.
The Observer reports that Putin has claimed the gunmen were fleeing to Ukraine when they were caught after the deadly attack that killed at least 133 people and left 140 injured.
But the paper’s main story reports on an allegation that French maritime police funded by the UK government are using “deadly tactics” to keep migrants from reaching Britain. The paper points to “shocking new evidence” including a video said to show French police ramming a small boat.
THE SUNDAY PAPERS – REVIEWED AND SUMMARISED
The Observer – The deadly tactics used to keep migrants from our shores
The Observer leads on an allegation that French maritime police funded by the UK government are using “deadly tactics” to keep migrants from reaching Britain. The paper points to “shocking new evidence” including a video said to show French police ramming a small boat.
Elsewhere, Vladimir Putin claims that the gunmen – who carried out a mass shooting in Russia, were heading to Ukraine.
The Sunday Times – Kate wrote every word to ‘reassure’ the nation
The Sunday Times leads on Princess Kate saying the royal wrote every word to reassure the nation. She chose to film her announcement to deliver the news because she felt it was more compassionate.
Details of the attack on a concert hall in Russia’s capital city, which left at least 133 people dead and 140 injured, also make the page under the headline “‘Murderous stroll’ of Moscow terrorists”.
The Sunday Telegraph – Prince’s pride at courage of his wife
The Sunday Telegraph focuses on the royal couple, quoting the Prince of Wales as saying he is “extremely proud” of his wife’s “courage and strength”.
The paper also reports the Moscow attack but chooses to lead on a warning to the Kremlin from an unnamed “senior Whitehall security source” that it should not use the event as an “excuse” to “intensify its war on Ukraine”.
The Sun on Sunday – Kate had ’emotional’ lunch with King
The Sun on Sunday leads on Princess Kate saying she had an emotional lunch with the King at Windsor Castle a day before her video announcement was made.
The “cancer battling pair” had a “heart to heart”, it says, referring to the King’s cancer diagnosis last month. Insiders have told the paper that the King left the meeting at Windsor Castle feeling “emotional”.
Sunday Mirror – Thank you for your warmth and support … we are both so touched
The Sunday Mirror leads on William and Kate’s message of thanks following the princess’s announcement she had started preventative chemotherapy. Her cancer battle news came as a shock, she had undergone major surgery in January.
Sunday Express -A Nation touched by Kate’s courage
The Sunday Express says leads on Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis. The paper says Kate has won worldwide admiration for her poignant video in which she explained her absence over the past few months following her major surgery.
Elsewhere, a young cancer survivor sends a message to Kate – her ‘special friend.’