ON a rare visit from California, the couple watched the queen's birthday parade, the Trooping the Colour, from a building overlooking the parade ground, a short distance from Buckingham Palace.
The Daily Mail and The Sun tabloids published grainy photographs of Meghan, 40, wearing a broad-rimmed straw hat with a huge ribbon and bateau-neckline dress.
The couple were shown jokingly shushing the children in the royal party.
Meghan, an American former television actress, was seen chatting to the three young children of Harry's cousin, Olympic medal-winning showjumper Zara Tindall.
Harry, 37, a former British army captain, was pictured wearing a dark suit, rather than the ornate military uniform worn for the occasion by his brother William and father Charles.
He was also shown talking to Prince Edward and the Duke of Kent, the Queen's cousin, who accompanied the monarch on the Buckingham Palace balcony as troops saluted below.
The Sun wrote that Harry and Meghan "took a backseat" at the event.
Pictures did not show the couple's young children Lilibet, who turns one on Saturday and three-year-old brother Archie, with their parents shielding them from photographers.
While they were only semi-visible, Harry and Meghan were watching the parade in the same room as other senior royals not involved in the ceremony.
Those present included William's wife Kate Middleton and her three children as well as Harry and William's cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, the daughters of disgraced Prince Andrew.
Lilibet meeting?
Harry and Meghan are likely to attend a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral on Friday (3), their biographer Omid Scobie told reporters last week.
The Times reported that the queen could for the first time meet her great-grand-daughter Lilibet, whose name is her childhood nickname, on her first birthday.
Lilibet has never met the Queen or her grandfather, Prince Charles, it wrote.
Prince Andrew, the Queen's middle son whose reputation has been tarnished by sex claims, did not appear at the Jubilee events.
He settled a US civil case for sexual assault earlier this year after being removed from royal duties.
The queen elected to only have "working royals" on the balcony, excluding Harry, Meghan and Andrew.
The couple met the queen in at Windsor Castle on a recent private visit before the latest edition of Harry's Invictus Games for disabled veterans in the Netherlands.
After a prolonged absence, an opinion poll published by YouGov this week found their popularity has plunged to record lows.
Some 58 per cent view Harry negatively and 63 per cent viewing Meghan negatively.
The couple, who married in 2018 and were hailed as the modern face of the monarchy, gave up frontline royal duties and left the UK to live in California in March 2020 in a move dubbed "Megxit".
They later gave an explosive interview to US television's Oprah Winfrey, where both accused unnamed royals of racism.
Harry also claimed his father and brother felt "trapped" by the conventions of royal life.
The couple also complained over the removal of Harry's government-funded personal security, which he is currently contesting in court.
Harry and Meghan have since signed lucrative deals with streaming giants Netflix and Spotify, among other tie-ups with publishers and motivational speaking.
Harry is due to publish his memoirs later this year, with the palace braced for further revelations.
Sekhar Kammula’s Kuberaa, starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, and Rashmika Mandanna, hit theatres on 20 June and has quickly made waves online. Reactions across social media, particularly Twitter, have described the film as a bold, emotionally rich crime drama with standout performances, especially from Dhanush. Audiences have called it a “rare gem” in today’s commercial landscape and one of the best Telugu-Tamil bilingual films of 2025 so far.
Dhanush’s career-best, Rashmika’s surprise, and Nagarjuna’s steady hand
The highlight of most audience reviews is Dhanush’s performance, hailed by many as his “career-best” and even “National Award-worthy.” His portrayal of Deva, a beggar caught in a complex web of crime and morality, has been described as transformative and deeply immersive. One viewer wrote that few actors could pull off such a layered character with the same mannerisms in multiple avatars. Fans have also praised Rashmika Mandanna, calling this her strongest performance yet. Her portrayal is described as subtle yet powerful, giving the character both vulnerability and resilience. Nagarjuna’s presence, though noted to be slightly underused, was still appreciated for its gravitas and emotional weight.
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Sekhar Kammula’s direction was lauded for steering clear of formulaic mass elements, there are no item numbers or excessive heroism and instead relying on a grounded narrative. Viewers appreciated the film’s quiet intensity, emotional pacing, and the director’s ability to build tension without gimmicks. Cinematographer Niketh Bommireddy received special praise for his frames and lighting, with many calling the visuals “painterly” and emotionally charged. Devi Sri Prasad’s background score was also credited for amplifying the film’s emotional beats.
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Long runtime, uneven pacing but still worth the ride
Despite widespread acclaim, some viewers felt Kuberaa’s three-hour-plus runtime could have been tighter. A few pointed out that the second half dragged slightly and the climax felt rushed compared to the strong build-up. Others mentioned that some of Kammula’s philosophical themes did not fully land in execution. Still, even the critics agreed the film is a worthwhile experience that deviates from standard commercial fare.
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In all, Kuberaa is being celebrated as a rare cinematic effort: emotionally grounded, superbly acted, and visually distinctive. Whether or not it’s a perfect film, audiences seem to agree that this is Dhanush’s show, and it’s one worth watching.
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Stephen Fry says JK Rowling's views on trans rights have crossed the line
Stephen Fry has spoken out against JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues, saying the author has become “radicalised” and calling her views “cruel” and “mocking”. This is, in fact, a significant shift from Fry, who had previously refused to take sides in the heated debate surrounding Rowling’s statements on gender identity.
In a recent interview, the 66-year-old British actor, author and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate said Rowling’s repeated comments had crossed a line. “She has been radicalised, I fear, perhaps by TERFs, but also by the sheer backlash she’s faced,” he said. “I’m afraid she seems to be a lost cause for us.”
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Fry says Rowling’s tone has changed for the worse
Fry, who famously narrated all seven Harry Potter audiobooks, said he once enjoyed Rowling’s company and admired her wit, but feels her recent behaviour is no longer something he can overlook. “She says things that are inflammatory, contemptuous, and mocking,” he said. “It’s a terribly distressing time for trans people, and her words only make it worse.”
He added that while public debate is important, Rowling’s rhetoric has contributed to a toxic atmosphere. “There’s bullying, violence, and suicide in the trans community,” he said. “It’s not the time for smugness or cigar selfies on yachts.” This was in reference to Rowling’s post celebrating a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that defined women by biological sex, something LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall called “deeply worrying” for trans people.
Fry joins Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson in supporting the trans communityGetty Images
Fry also reflected on the damage done by shouting on both sides of the issue: “Screaming ‘transphobe’ at anyone who doesn’t agree with every detail doesn’t help either. You have to let people love you.”
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Cast and colleagues have also distanced themselves from Rowling
Fry now joins Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in publicly rejecting Rowling’s stance. All three actors have declared support for trans rights in recent years. By contrast, Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy, has remained neutral, choosing instead to focus on Rowling’s legacy as a writer.
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This growing divide among those closest to the Harry Potter universe shows how Rowling’s position has shifted the conversation from literary legacy to personal ethics and how even long-time allies like Fry are no longer staying silent.
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India's Yashasvi Jaiswal plays a shot on the opening day of the first cricket test match between England and India at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds on June 20, 2025.
ENGLAND captain Ben Stokes won the toss and chose to bowl first against India in the opening Test at Headingley on Friday.
The match began under clear skies and with a pitch showing only a slight green tinge, suggesting decent conditions for batting in the first game of the five-Test series.
Stokes said: "Headingley is generally a good cricket wicket, we have had some good games here over the years so we will look to use the early conditions and get a bit out of it (the pitch)."
England had already named their team, with two changes from the side that beat Zimbabwe by an innings at Trent Bridge. Chris Woakes returned in place of the injured Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse was included for his home debut.
India handed a debut to Sai Sudharsan, who was listed to bat at number three. New captain Shubman Gill was set to bat at number four.
India are aiming for their third Test series win in England, following previous victories in 1971, 1986 and 2007. Gill said: "Preparation has been amazing, I think all the boys are feeling in a good space mentally and physically."
The match also marks the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship, following South Africa’s win over Australia in last week’s final at Lord's.
Both teams wore black armbands in memory of those who died in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, where all but one of the 242 people on board were killed.
Teams
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wkt), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
UK MPs are set to hold a key vote on assisted dying on Friday, which could either advance or halt a proposed law that would allow terminally ill adults to end their lives under strict conditions.
The vote follows several hours of debate in the House of Commons and will decide whether the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny or is dropped altogether.
As MPs gather for the third reading — their final opportunity to debate the bill’s content — demonstrators from both sides of the issue are expected outside parliament.
“This is about real people facing the prospect of a painful and undignified death either for themselves or a loved one,” said MP Kim Leadbeater, who is leading the bill. “The injustice and inhumanity of the status quo means we cannot wait any longer to offer them the hope of a better death.”
The legislation would apply to adults in England and Wales with an incurable illness and fewer than six months to live.
It would require patients to administer the life-ending medication themselves, with approval needed from two doctors and a panel of experts.
If passed, the law would bring England and Wales in line with other countries that permit some form of assisted dying.
Concerns and changes
Supporters of the bill say it would offer more protection and choice to people nearing the end of life. Opponents argue it could put pressure on vulnerable individuals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has raised concerns, stating last month that it had “serious concerns” about safeguarding people with mental illness, and said it could not support the bill in its current form.
MPs initially backed the bill by 330 votes to 275 in November. Since then, changes have been made, including a ban on advertising assisted dying and provisions allowing health workers to opt out of taking part.
The current vote comes as several MPs have shifted their stance, and political parties are allowing a free vote. The outcome remains uncertain.
Vote tally and next steps
An ITV News tally of about half of all MPs suggests 153 support the change, 141 are opposed, 21 remain undecided and another 21 are expected to abstain.
Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords must pass the bill before the end of the current parliamentary year, likely in the autumn, for it to become law.
If approved and granted royal assent, assisted dying services would not begin for at least four years.
Legal and regional developments
The government’s impact assessment, published this month, estimates that 160 to 640 assisted deaths could occur in the first year of implementation, rising to about 4,500 by the tenth year.
Prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to support the bill, but some cabinet members, including the health and justice secretaries, have spoken against it.
Assisted suicide is currently punishable by up to 14 years in prison in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Separate legislation is being considered in Scotland, and the Isle of Man passed an assisted dying bill in March, becoming the first British territory to do so.
Director Danny Boyle has said his Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire would not be made in today’s climate – and believes that’s exactly how it should be.
Speaking to The Guardian, the 68-year-old filmmaker reflected on the 2008 film’s legacy with a mix of pride and realism, admitting that shifting cultural awareness around authorship and representation means such a project would no longer be viable.
“Yeah, we wouldn’t be able to make that now,” Boyle said. “And that’s how it should be.”
A film rooted in Mumbai, but still told from the outside
Slumdog Millionaire, a rags-to-riches drama set in Mumbai and starring Dev Patel, was celebrated for its energy and storytelling when it swept the 2009 Academy Awards. It was shot largely in Hindi, with a local crew, and Boyle made efforts to ground the production in Indian culture.
However, he now acknowledges that the method, however well-intentioned, was still that of an outsider looking in.
“We made the decision that only a handful of us would go to Mumbai,” he explained. “We’d work with a big Indian crew and try to make a film within the culture. But you’re still an outsider. It’s still a flawed method.”
Cultural appropriation and a changing lens
Asked if the production could be seen as a form of cultural colonialism, Boyle responded, “No, no. Well, only in the sense that everything is.” He clarified that what once felt radical at the time must now be viewed through a more critical lens, as conversations around cultural appropriation have grown louder in the years since.
“That kind of cultural appropriation might be sanctioned at certain times. But at other times it cannot be,” he said. “I’m proud of the film, but you wouldn’t even contemplate doing something like that today. It wouldn’t even get financed. Even if I was involved, I’d be looking for a young Indian film-maker to shoot it.”
A broader shift in who gets to tell the story
Boyle’s comments reflect a broader shift in the film industry, where the question of who gets to tell certain stories has become increasingly important. While Slumdog Millionaire was hailed at the time as a triumph of global cinema, some later critiques pointed to the way it framed poverty in India for Western audiences.
Rather than defending the film against such criticism, Boyle appears to welcome the fact that times have changed. His remarks suggest an understanding that what was once celebrated may now require re-examination, not out of shame, but out of progress.
“I’m proud of the film – but the world has moved on”
Boyle reiterated his personal connection to the film, but made it clear that he recognises how standards have shifted.
“I’m proud of the film,” he repeated, “but the world has moved on.”