'Our Hearts Are Broken' – Historic Front Pages Mark The Queen's Death

Both British and international newspapers honour the passing of the UK's longest-reigning monarch.
The front pages from the Daily Mirror and The Times for Friday, September 9
The front pages from the Daily Mirror and The Times for Friday, September 9
Daily Mirror/The Times

The death of Queen Elizabeth II leads every national newspaper in the UK on Friday morning.

The Queen, who was the UK’s longest-serving monarch, is being remembered for her steadfast commitment to her role and her lifetime dedication to the crown.

Here’s a look at those historic front pages.

The Times is one of the outlets which uses a famous photo by Cecil Beaton that marked the monarch’s coronation back in 1953 – aged 27 – to honour her passing, alongside a caption: “A life in service.”

A Life in Service

Queen Elizabeth II: April 21 1926 - September 8 2022

🗞 Read the full Times obituary here: https://t.co/22lRgce0sC pic.twitter.com/KyraQY4EHS

— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) September 8, 2022

The Daily Star uses the same image, with the headline: ”‘You did your duty, ma’am’.”

Tomorrow's front page: 'You did your duty, Ma'am'💔https://t.co/idnY1TzJhL#TheQueen #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4sBqiRQVT9

— Daily Star (@dailystar) September 8, 2022

The Independent and The Guardian splash with that famous photo too, although neither paper includes a quote, simply the date of the Queen’s birth and death – 1926 to 2022.

The Guardian front page, Friday 9 September 2022; Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022 pic.twitter.com/5ROqSmVqE1

— The Guardian (@guardian) September 8, 2022

Our front page tomorrow #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/8No26vHjrk

— Alastair Jamieson (@alastairjam) September 8, 2022

The i also goes for the same photograph, but has a more informative front page with a break down of the four key details from the day. It explains that the monarch died in Balmoral in the afternoon, and that the country is likely to enter 10 days of mourning. The Queen’s successor, King Charles III, will be making an address on Friday too.

Friday's special edition marks the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. pic.twitter.com/XbFCKuJWRn

— i newspaper (@theipaper) September 8, 2022

The Daily Mail opts for an image of the Queen from 1952, when she was still Princess Elizabeth, first in line to the throne. She’s pictured without the crown jewels, but with a smaller crown and ornate decorative jewellery. Its front page carries a quote from its columnist Sarah Vine: “Our hearts are broken.”

Our hearts are broken: It just seems unimaginable. That wisest and most steadfast of women, our guiding light in the darkest of nights, has gone.https://t.co/A6XLugMvCv pic.twitter.com/EmSjFuB8cC

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) September 8, 2022

The Metro’s front page includes another photo from the same occasion, except in this one the Queen is slightly smiling while looking over her shoulder. It carries the dates of her life, 1926 to 2022.

Friday's Metro: Elizabeth II 1926-2022 #TomorrowsPapersToday #Metro pic.twitter.com/93XcXufqPV

— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) September 8, 2022

The Financial Times used a more candid image than its competitors, opting for a photo of the Queen in her finery while leaning out of a carriage, smiling, with her full title in its headline – “Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022”.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times international edition Friday September 9 https://t.co/zBvV16DeRt pic.twitter.com/bRdv2ZQdjr

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) September 8, 2022

The Sun uses a more modern, but still formal, portrait of the Queen for its front page, displayed in black and white, with a purple mastehead, while choosing another image of the late monarch in her youth for its back page. On the front, it goes with the headline: “We loved you Ma’am.”

Below, it has a caption remembering her as Britain’s longest-serving monarch, and concluding: “We are proud you were our Queen.”

Friday's Sun: We Loved You Ma'am #TomorrowsPapersToday #TheSun #Sun pic.twitter.com/dryTso940i

— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) September 8, 2022

The Daily Express uses the same photo of the Queen from the modern era, accompanying the caption: “Our beloved Queen is dead.”

Friday's Express: Our Beloved Queen Is Dead #TomorrowsPapersToday #DailyExpress #Express pic.twitter.com/xqdN0MnjhX

— Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) September 8, 2022

The Daily Record chooses an image of the monarch in profile, in her finery during a special occasion, while smiling. It foregoes a headline altogether, just writing: “Queen Elizabeth II: 1926 - 2022.”

Today's front page.
Queen Elizabeth II.
1926-2022.#scotpapers pic.twitter.com/V5RdZBO39k

— The Daily Record (@Daily_Record) September 9, 2022

The Mirror also uses an image of the Queen in profile, but this time she has a more sombre expression. This picture is just accompanied by the headline: “Thank you.”

Friday's front page: Thank you https://t.co/RpX4DCvQ5l #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/0MxuaXtiDh

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) September 8, 2022

The Daily Telegraph opts for the same black and white image of the Queen that the royal family released to announce her death.

The paper attaches a quote from a speech the monarch shared when sending her condolences to the US over 9/11: ”Grief is the price we pay for love.”

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'Grief is the price we pay for love' - HM Queen Elizabeth IIhttps://t.co/GvXEEFpNkR pic.twitter.com/QdFt2H9pHe

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) September 8, 2022

Regional newspapers across the country also acknowledged the historic occasion too, although some used less formal images to mark her death.

Scottish newspaper The Herald, however, did choose a formal image showing the Queen in her finery while standing in the Highlands.

Tomorrow's front page as we pay tribute to the Queen pic.twitter.com/9ct0IZH8ST

— The Herald (@heraldscotland) September 8, 2022

Tomorrow's @ChronicleLive front page as the North East mourns the passing of a beloved Queen #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/aHhMmYNBSQ

— The Chronicle (@ChronicleLive) September 8, 2022

Our condolences go out for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family.

Today's front page. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/bSiVbN7uj6

— Brighton Argus (@brightonargus) September 9, 2022

Front page of Friday's Liverpool ECHO as the nation mourns the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022 pic.twitter.com/XvVop1VStQ

— Liverpool Echo (@LivEchonews) September 9, 2022

Tomorrow's front page.

Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022#TomorrowsPapersToday #QueenElizabethII pic.twitter.com/NMSdODjHmd

— Lancashire Post (@leponline) September 8, 2022

Thank you for your years of service, Your Majesty

Our front page will be just one among many worldwide, but we hope it’s done our Queen justice 🙏#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LgweMz2kZW

— Jim Scott (@jimscottjourno) September 8, 2022

Our front page: My beloved mother.

King Charles III and family mourn death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral.#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/xwv7hYRDwM

— Evening Express (@EveningExpress) September 8, 2022

Tomorrow's front page: Queen Elizabeth II - 1926-2022.#tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/qZLfyYFepR

— The Press & Journal (@pressjournal) September 8, 2022

Today's front page: Queen Elizabeth II
1926-2022 pic.twitter.com/jyJl5mkNVu

— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) September 9, 2022

Away from the British press, newspapers all over the world honoured the late monarch.

US outlets the New York Times, the New Yorker and TIME magazine all gave their front pages to the Queen.

Tomorrow’s @nytimes front page. “Queen and Spirit of Britain.” pic.twitter.com/P5QGza6zWy

— Emmett Lindner (@emmettlindner) September 9, 2022

An early look at next week’s cover, “Figurehead,” by @malikafavre: https://t.co/sf3Bql8oDl pic.twitter.com/jtuHg6bFcy

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) September 8, 2022

TIME's new commemorative cover: Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022 https://t.co/NMT3FDTbaQ pic.twitter.com/od7VzQLRen

— TIME (@TIME) September 8, 2022

Italian Corriere della Sera honoured the Queen too, as did the French newspapers Liberation and Le Temps, alongside German newspaper Bild.

🔴 Addio alla regina Elisabetta: la sovrana britannica si è spenta oggi a 96 anni. "Ha regnato su due secoli: e ha impresso il suo sigillo su entrambi", scrive il nostro corrispondente da Londra. L'articolo completo 👉 https://t.co/LvRCEMtGl9 pic.twitter.com/D7ZsDckJi7

— Corriere della Sera (@Corriere) September 8, 2022

Perfection. @libe pic.twitter.com/9AKfRNX7k3

— Karim Lebhour (@KaLebhour) September 9, 2022

Front page of @LeTemps:

"She was the Queen" pic.twitter.com/VtZOfsOoqL

— The French Dispatch (@FrenchDispatch) September 8, 2022

Die @bild Titelseite von morgen. pic.twitter.com/g83U8gOnjD

— Johannes Boie (@johannesboie) September 8, 2022
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