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Newspaper headlines: 'Do one's duty' as Queen makes 'vaccine plea'

By BBC News
Staff

Published
image captionThe Queen features on many of the front pages after urging people to get the coronavirus vaccine. The Daily Telegraph says the monarch made her first comments on the subject by saying that those who refuse the vaccine "ought to think about other people rather than themselves".
image captionThe Daily Mail leads on a similar theme, saying the Queen made a "historic intervention" in the coronavirus vaccination drive by suggesting "it is selfish not to have the jab". The paper says it is "highly unusual" for the monarch "to take such a firm public stand on contentious issues and her remarks will be seen as a victory for efforts to increase take-up".
image caption"One's had one's jab and one's... right as reign" is the headline in the Sun, which reports that the Queen said her jab seven weeks ago "didn't hurt at all" during a video call.
image captionThe Metro features pictures from the Queen's video chat with leaders of the NHS vaccine rollout during which she made the comments about vaccination. The paper says she told them: "Once you've had the vaccine, you have a feeling of, you know, you're protected which is, I think, very important."
image caption"Do one's duty" is the headline in the Daily Mirror, which says the Queen issued a "stern rebuke to anti-vaxxers". It quotes her as saying that we must all help defeat the virus, which she likened to the plague.
image captionThe Queen has urged everyone to follow her lead and have a Covid jab, according to the Daily Express. The paper described it as a "heartfelt plea" which evoked a wartime spirit.
image captionThe Queen's image is also splashed across the front of the Times, but the paper leads on the chancellor's plans for a new "stealth tax" on wealthy pensioners. It claims Rishi Sunak will announce in his Budget next week a freeze on the lifetime allowance - the amount people can build up in their pension pot before incurring tax charges.
image captionThe Budget is also the focus for the i, which reports there will be no pay rise for NHS staff in England in next week's announcement. It says that Mr Sunak will not make a decision on health worker salaries until May.
image captionThe weakening of the weather system that brings warm and mild weather to Europe is the main story in the Guardian. The paper says "climate breakdown" is the probable cause, and it could mean colder winters in the UK.
image captionAnd the Daily Star splashes on the announcement that Mr Potato Head, a classic children's toy, is going to become gender neutral.

A smiling Queen is pictured on many front pages after she encouraged people to come forward and get vaccinated.

"It's selfish not to have the jab," is how the Daily Mail summarises her message which it describes as "historic" and "astonishing". It says it's "highly unusual for the sovereign to take such a firm public stand on contentious issues".

"Do one's duty," is the Daily Mirror's headline which sees her remarks as a "stern rebuke to anti-vaxxers".

The Daily Telegraph explains that it's been told by royal sources that it's the Queen's "passionately held belief" that everyone should get a jab.

It draws a parallel with her decision in 1957 to let it be known that Prince Charles and Princess Anne had been given the polio vaccine to counter public fears.

The paper also says the rollout has been beset by hesitancy among the black community of whom, it adds, just 72% are willing to have the jab.

The Queen's vaccine plea also makes the lead in the Sun which quips "one's had one's jab and one's right as reign".

image copyrightBuckingham Palace

The Times reports the chancellor is drawing up plans for a new "stealth tax" on wealthy pensioners as he seeks to tackle the financial damage caused by the pandemic.

It says he's expected to announce a freeze on the amount people can build up in their pension pot before incurring tax charges - keeping it at just over a million pounds.

The paper also suggests he'll freeze the £50,000 threshold for the higher rate of income tax - in a move which would create 800,000 more higher-rate taxpayers.

The Telegraph reports the chancellor has been warned against tax rises by five cabinet ministers who think such a move could stifle the economic recovery.

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NHS staff in England who are hoping for a pay-rise after one of the toughest years in the front line are set to be disappointed, according to the i newspaper.

It says it has been told by senior treasury sources that Mr Sunak won't make any decision on health worker salaries until after the NHS Pay Review body submits its conclusions in May.

The Royal College of Nursing tells the Daily Star that staff are exhausted and many are threatening to jack in their jobs once the pandemic pressure abates.

image copyrightPA Media

In its lead, the Guardian warns that a weather system which brings warm and mild weather to Europe is weakening - and that climate breakdown is the most likely cause.

It says the unprecedented changes to the system - known as "AMOC" - could result in more storms and colder winters in the British Isles and damaging heatwaves and droughts across Europe.

And a BBC proposal to create a British answer to the Simpsons receives plenty of coverage. The papers report the corporation wants to invest in home-grown animation for children between seven and 12.

The idea is to win back viewers from Netflix and Disney - and to counter American influence in popular culture. The Mail gives a nod to Homer Simpson in its headline - "all systems d'oh for BBC plan".