BBC News

Newspaper headlines: Queen's 'emotive plea' and COP26 deal to save forests

By BBC News
Staff

Published
Image caption, Many of the front pages lead with the Queen's message to world leaders at the COP26 climate summit, in which she urges them to act now and "rise above the politics" for the sake "of our children". The Daily Telegraph describes the speech, which was recorded at Windsor Castle on Friday after the monarch was forced to pull out of a planned appearance on medical advice, as "her most significant intervention on the environment to date".
Image caption, The Times picks up on the Queen's reference to her "great pride" in the leading role her late husband played "in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet". Like many of the papers, it pictures the monarch giving her video address while wearing a green outfit with a butterfly brooch, which was an engagement gift from Prince Philip. Behind her is a photograph of the former Duke of Edinburgh surrounded by butterflies.
Image caption, The Daily Express sees the message as "deeply personal" and "full of pride" for Prince Philip, who was an early champion for environmental causes. The 95-year-old monarch also reminded delegates that "none of us will live for ever", the paper notes.
Image caption, The Sun also focuses on the Queen's tribute to her late husband, with the headline "Phil the green". Its front page features a picture of the Duchess of Cambridge, who visited a Scouts group in Glasgow on Monday.
Image caption, The Guardian focuses on a deal agreed by world leaders to halt and reverse global deforestation over the next decade as part of a multibillion-dollar package. Leaders of countries including China, Brazil and the US are among those who will commit to the declaration, the paper reports.
Image caption, The Metro criticises billionaires Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates for partying on "gas-guzzling" superyachts in the run up to COP26 before flying to the summit by private jet. It brands their actions the "height of hycoprisy".
Image caption, "The egos have landed!" is the headline for the Daily Star. "Nothing says 'save the planet' more than the world's biggest hypocrites flying in to tell us little people how to behave," the paper says, alongside pictures of the planes, helicopters and motorcades used to transport leaders to the summit.
Image caption, The i leads on a report by MPs about smart motorways, which calls on the government to pause their rollout immediately due to insufficient data on safety. Sir Mike Penning, the former minister who first introduced smart motorways, tells the paper he supports the recommendations and urges the government to adopt them "as a matter of urgency".
Image caption, Describing the report as "damning", the Daily Mail says MPs have accused transport chiefs and civil servants of pressing ahead with the construction of smart motorways despite "major concerns". The paper says the Commons transport committee wants the rollout to be halted because of "deadly safety flaws".
Image caption, The Financial Times leads with the news that Jes Staley is stepping down as chief executive of Barclays after an investigation by regulators into the way he described his relationship with disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The investigation made no findings that Mr Staley saw or was aware of any of Epstein's crimes - but the bank's board agreed he would step down after Mr Staley said he intended to contest its conclusions, the paper reports.
Image caption, The Daily Mirror has interviewed a 76-year-old "right to die" campaigner, who chose to take her own life in an assisted suicide. Dawn Voice-Cooper, who was "crippled by ill health", had a glass of champagne and hugged friends while listening to her favourite song at a clinic in Switzerland.

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