Scotland's papers: A&E avoidable deaths and Royal Family tensions
The NHS in Scotland being under what has been described as unprecedented strain continues to be a major issue for several of the papers. The Scotsman leads with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine estimating that 36 people died as a direct result of avoidable delays in accident and emergency departments last week. The paper also carries a front page picture of the Queen being accompanied to the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service by Prince Andrew - a move which has sparked controversy following his civil case settlement over sexual abuse allegations.
The Herald goes with the same NHS line. It says, for the first time on record, more than 1,000 patients spent over 12 hours in A&E departments last week and one in 10 was delayed by eight hours or more. Clinicians say the pressure on beds is being driven by soaring rates of Covid-positive patients, as well as staff shortages due to the virus.
The Daily Express carries a picture of the Queen looking grief-stricken at the memorial service for the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey. It leads with "royal fallout", reporting the "forgiving gesture" by the Queen had "sparked tensions" within the Royal Family. It reports that Prince Charles and Prince William were both "said to feel uneasy" at the decision.
The Daily Mail reports on the "dismay" of senior royals at the prominence of Prince Andrew. The Mail reports the sight of the duke escorting the Queen to her seat "in full view of broadcast cameras" shocked many in the congregation.
The i leads with the news that the Metropolitan Police have issued the first 20 "Partygate" fines over lockdown gatherings in No 10. The paper says Prime Minister Boris Johnson as being "in denial" over the issue, as he "still does not accept that lockdown laws were broken". The paper adds No 10 has said the names of those penalised will never be released, while the police have suggested further fines are likely.
Other front pages are leading on the Russian promise to withdraw troops from attacking the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other major cities. The Daily Telegraph says Russia has given up on the "conquest of Kyiv". Russian President Vladimir Putin has "failed in his plan", adds the paper.
The Times reports the development "raised the prospect of direct ceasefire negotiations" between Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, but added the two sides were "still far from an agreement".
The Metro also reports hopes of peace have been boosted after Russia "vowed to scale back its military onslaught" as part of the first-in person peace talks for nearly three weeks. The paper reports Mr Zelensky has indicated he would be willing to agree to a "declaration of neutrality and give up hopes of joining Nato".
The Daily Star focuses on the ongoing role of Chelsea FC's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich in peace talks in Turkey. Reflecting on claims he had been poisoned at a round of negotiations earlier this month, the paper says "Step away from the Hobnobs, Roman!" and reports he has been warned to give food and drink a "wide berth".
Elsewhere, The Daily Record leads with a family fight at a wedding which ended with the bride and groom spending the night in police cells. The bride's mother, the best man and another male guest were also involved, the paper says.
The National has an interview with an 18-year-old Ukrainian woman who arrived in Scotland on Monday after a Montrose family sponsored her UK visa. Varvara Shevtsova describes the days and nights her family spent in a bomb shelter in her home city of Kyiv.
The Press and Journal says NHS health boards and councils across the north and north east of Scotland are bracing themselves for energy bills soaring to £80m. The impact of higher bills is likely to mean even less money for stretched services, according to the local authorities body Cosla.
Th Edinburgh News leads with city council leader Adam McVey being at the centre of a row over an online meeting to discuss failings at secure accommodation for young people. Mr McVey is accused of muting the microphones of two Conservative councillors "to shut down debate" on the issue.
The Courier highlights the strain on the NHS in Fife, where 143 people are in hospital with Covid. The record-high number means a third of the entire bed capacity is now taken up by patients who have tested positive.
The Evening Express leads with an Aberdeen councillor who was convicted of sexual assault going back on a vow to seek re-election in May. Former depute provost Alan Donnelly says he now plans to seek residency thousands of miles away in Kuwait.
The Evening Telegraph reports on a Dundee man who was arrested after he handed his phone into a pawn shop after installing specialist software to hide his stash of child abuse images.
