Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
Many of Friday’s newspapers react to Harry and Meghan’s Netflix documentary on their front pages. The right-wing papers frame the series as an attack on the royal family by Harry and Meghan, whilst the left-wing papers remain fairly neutral on the series – instead pointing out there were really no new claims in the series but a rehashing of what Harry and Meghan have already expressed.
The upcoming winter strikes dominate the papers inside and news Harry Dunn’s killer has received a suspended sentence is also heavily reported on inside the papers and online news sites.
Many of the papers look ahead to the upcoming World Cup quarter-final games. England will take on France in their last 8 match on Saturday, but before that Brazil face Croatia and the Netherlands will take on Argentina later today.
Harry and Meghan Netflix show
Daily Telegraph claims the show is a “direct hit” on the late Queen’s legacy after the Commonwealth was described as “Empire 2.0.” The paper quotes sources calling it “deeply offensive” to her memory as well as “appalling and factually inaccurate.” In it’s editorial, the paper says it’s a “very Californian exercise in grievance”.
The royals will be “deeply upset” by what the Daily Express describes as Harry’s slurs. The paper describes the show as “incendiary.” The paper says the couple – who were Commonwealth ambassadors – now risked undermining the late Queen’s work and Britain’s interests across the 56-nation association. The paper’s editorial calls on them to stop their “narcissistic project.”
“Harry the nasty” is the Sun’s headline – the paper dedicates a full nine pages to the story, while the Daily Mail quotes insiders saying: “It’s as if they want to bring down the monarchy”.
The Metro uses its front page to report Harry’s dig at members of the royal family – he said royal men don’t marry for love, the paper believes its a dig at William and Charles.
For the more central-to-left papers, they focus on what more there is to come. Several papers note that the series was not as explosive as the trailers tried to make out.
The Times says royal sources are worried the next three episodes will be “far more inflammatory.”
The Mirror front page expresses its irritation towards the “royal circus” – noting that millions of working Britons are struggling whilst the royal family are once again squabbling.
Winter strikes to cause mass disruption
Another lead story for Friday’s papers is the upcoming strikes set to cause mass disruption across the UK over winter.
The i newspaper says the government has admitted its proposed new anti-strike laws could increase the number of walkouts.
The Guardian says the government is now engaged in a “bitter PR battle” with the unions over who’s to blame for the upcoming strikes – which stretch across several sectors.
