Papers join in celebrations

Celebration dominates the papers with two events competing for top billing: the Queen Mother's 100th birthday and the marriage of the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, and Sarah Macauley.

The Browns' big day features strongly on the front pages, but many papers have printed special souvenirs to mark the century of the woman described by The Times as "the best of British".

The Queen Mother's childhood at Glamis Castle may have been as privileged as living in a picture by van Dyck, says the paper, but she has kept in step with the changing world - always remaining a royal matriarch admired by the British public.

For The Daily Telegraph no-one has done more for the monarchy.

The paper says she filled her role as queen on a global scale, charming an empire in a job that no-one had done before, or since.

And, by staying in London during the Blitz, she helped to forge an image of national unity which remained the country's most powerful image in the 20th century.

Wedding leak

Gordon Brown's wedding day provokes some sadness for The Guardian.

Political editor, Michael White finds it hard not to feel sorry for the Browns who came within 18 hours of pulling off the private family occasion only to have it hit by the matrimonial equivalent of a Budget leak.

As a result the newly weds had to make time for a media scrum at their gate.

The Telegraph believes it would have been a glorious feat, a sweet moment, if Mr Brown had managed a wedding without a journalist or cameraman in sight.

Euro warning

The Independent's lead story will make anxious reading for Mr Brown on his honeymoon.

Another Japanese business leader has warned that foreign companies may pull out of Britain unless it joins the Euro.

The head of Matsushita, the world's biggest electronics firm, says his company and others are frustrated by the government's stance on the European single currency and are being crippled by the high level of the pound.

The head of the pro-Euro Britain in Europe Group tells the Financial Times this is the starkest warning yet about the impact of closing the door on the single currency.

The Times says the remarks place a question mark over the long-term future of more than 5,000 workers employed by the firm in the UK.

Barclays' billions

The Daily Express turns its editorial fire on Barclays Bank which has announced profits of £1.8bn for the first half of the year.

The paper, which campaigned against the bank's decision to shut more than 170 rural branches, describes the figures as shameful testimony to Barclays' money-grubbing.

Shareholders will be celebrating, says the Express, but the bank has a responsibility to its account holders and should start living up to it.

Stumped by sign

Several papers report on the end of a dream for a cricket team from South Wales.

The side from Usk had just beaten Werrington from Cornwall and were two games away from the final of the National Village Cricket Championship at Lords.

But Werrington were given what the Daily Mail calls "a sign that victory might be theirs after all".

One of their team spotted a street sign declaring "Usk - Historic Town".

Towns, however small, are not allowed in the tournament so Werrington complained and were awarded the tie.

Usk were finally stumped on Thursday when the High Court rejected their appeal.