Some of those who took part in violent anti-migrant protests in the town this week have attended the Sunday protest outside Barnham Camp in Suffolk amid plans it could house migrants

Anti-immigration protestors have gathered outside a former RAF base near Thetford where violence erupted earlier this week.

The Home Office announced in June that it was considering using Barnham Camp in Suffolk to accommodate people seeking asylum, sparking a series of regular protests at the site.

Campaigners have gathered again today (Sunday) with Union and St George’s cross flags as some demonstrators held placards which read “Barnham says no. Protect our community”.

Tensions flared in Thetford, Norfolk, earlier in the week, with one male police officer struck with a rock, while a female officer was bitten and another was spat at, police said.

Police in Norfolk said officers were “subjected to significant aggression” on Wednesday night amid three nights of unrest in the market town.

The force said on Saturday that Friday night in Thetford had been “largely peaceful”, although three people were arrested and a window was smashed.

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Some of those who protested in the town this week included participants in the regular protests outside the former military site, the Guardian reported.

Norfolk Police were once again out to oversee anti-immigration demonstrators today at the RAF base protest. Some of those who protested in the town this week included participants in the regular protests outside the former military site, the Guardian reported.

Officers said they attended to “support the lawful right to protest while helping to ensure the safety of everyone involved and the wider public”.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesperson added: “Policing protests requires us to balance the right of individuals to peacefully express their views with our responsibility to protect local communities, including protesters, residents and road-users.

“Our policing response will continue to be kept under review, informed by the latest available information and ongoing assessments of any potential risks to public safety.

“Previous protests at Ministry of Defence (MoD) Barnham have been peaceful, and we would like to thank all those involved for expressing their views in a lawful and respectful manner. We are confident that this positive approach will continue.”

The camp would accommodate men aged between 18 and 65 who have applied for asylum, according to Home Office plans which have yet to be approved.

No asylum seekers are yet housed at the site, which Suffolk Constabulary said is a training site for the Norfolk and Suffolk forces.

Police said some vehicles, such as buses seen on site, were used for training purposes and people on site include police, MoD employees and security staff.

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

Whether it’s the an update on the death of tragic schoolgirl Minnie Merriman or the latest in the Athens suitcase murder of Elisabeth-Jane Ross – this is the place where you’ll get the low-down.

If you love to read about crime – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Sunday.

Family of tragic Minnie Merriman ‘left with nothing’ as they try to ‘rebuild’

The family of tragic Minnie Merriman have been “left with nothing” in the wake of her death, a close friend has told.

The nine-year-old, from West Yorkshire, died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after she was found seriously injured at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath in the early hours of Monday August 3. The youngster and her family were camping in the area at the time – with three other members of Minnie’s family also being taken to hospital.

Minnie’s father, Christopher Rice, 35, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he faced a single charge of murder. He has been remanded in custody.

A fundraiser has now been launched to help the family “rebuild” after their “unimaginable heartbreak”.

READ FULL STORY: Family of tragic Minnie Merriman ‘left with nothing’ as they try to ‘rebuild’

Fake doc accused of conning patients out of thousands of pounds at bogus clinics

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A man has been accused of posing as a doctor, conning dozens of patients out of ­thousands of pounds at bogus clinics.

Robert Becker, 34, is alleged to have duped almost 40 victims including children out of more than £40,000 from consultations while also handing out medication which potentially risked lives.

He is said to have pretended to be a doctor, psychologist and pharmacologist at fake surgeries in Edinburgh and Dalkeith, Midlothian.

Becker now faces 89 charges on a 22-page charge sheet spanning from September 2022 to August 2025.

The case was called for the first time at the High Court in Glasgow last week.

READ FULL STORY: Fake doc accused of conning patients out of thousands of pounds at bogus clinics

Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

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A drug dealing mob from Greenock were one of the first Scottish organised crime gangs snared after police cracked the encrypted platform Encrochat.

Five members of the crime gang sold cocaine, heroin and valium pills out of a block of flats known as “the shop” in the Inverclyde town.

Their criminal enterprise was suddenly brought to a halt when cops kicked in the heavily-barricaded door in 2020.

It came after French authorities infiltrated the Encrochat messaging service, favoured by criminals and gangsters. Police Scotland were tipped off to a series of messages on the platform, showing the drugs major drugs operation.

Lee Docherty, 37, Ian Millar, 39, Brendan Gillan, 32, his father Daniel Gillan, 60, and Christopher McKellar, 44, were all arrested.

READ FULL STORY: Inside Scots gangsters’ fortified drug den “the shop” after cops bust gang

Tests into how Scot died amid Athens suitcase murder probe face month-long delay

The test results to establish how a Scottish aid worker died, after her body was found in a suitcase in Greece, could be delayed for another month.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, known as Lisa, was found dead by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on Saturday, July 18, after travelling there from Edinburgh on June 26. Sharif Ahmadzai, 26, has since appeared in court in the Greek capital on suspicion of killing the aid worker, along with weapons offences and robbery charges.

Local police said they were fast-tracking tests as a priority. However, spokesperson Konstantina Dimoglidou has said that the results could take “at least another month”, according to the BBC.

The coroner’s report initially cited an undetermined cause of death, as the body showed no signs of external trauma. Then “asphyxiation was listed as the probable cause of death” following a more detailed investigation, autopsy and post-mortem examination.

READ FULL STORY: Tests into how Scot died amid Athens suitcase murder probe face month-long delay

Why fears of whitewash could see Emma Caldwell public inquiry ‘expanded’

The Emma Caldwell public inquiry could be expanded amid fears an official cover-up which allowed her killer to walk free for over a decade will not be scrutinised.

Active discussions over the terms of reference of the probe are under way, the Sunday Mail has learned, after concerns were raised by several parties including the victim’s family.

Iain Packer was convicted of murder in 2024 – 19 years after Emma’s body was discovered in Limefield Woods, Lanarkshire, in May 2005.

Even after the Sunday Mail published his picture on the front page in 2015 – branding him the “Forgotten Suspect” – Police Scotland launched illegal surveillance operation on our sources rather than pursue the killer.

A huge body of evidence points to a cover-up at the highest level after a botched prosecution of four innocent Turkish men collapsed in 2008.

READ FULL STORY: Why fears of whitewash could see Emma Caldwell public inquiry ‘expanded’

Two pensioners and teen arrested after £50,000 cocaine raid bust in Perth

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Two pensioners and a teenager have been arrested following a £50,000 drugs bust in Perth.

A drugs raid was carried out on a property in Strathtay Road in the city around 9.40am on Friday, August 7. Officers executed a search warrant and recovered cocaine estimated to be worth around £50,700.

Two men, aged 71 and 19, and a woman, aged 69, were arrested and charged in connection. All have been reported to the Procurator Fiscal and are expected to appear at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday, August 10.

Detective Sergeant David Feeney said: “Drugs cause misery in our communities and this recovery highlights our commitment to removing them from our streets.

“Information from the public is vital in helping target those involved in the supply of drugs.

READ FULL STORY: Two pensioners and teen arrested after £50,000 cocaine raid bust in Perth

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Firefighters were called to the scene in the village of Brotherton, south of Sherburn in Elmet, shortly after 2pm on Sunday (August 9).

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said three crews were called to the incident in Old Great Brotherton Road.

The fire service said the crews extinguished the fire and the incident was left with police.

In a statement, the fire service said: “A crew from Selby responded to reports of a fire in the open.

“Crews requested an extra two appliances from Selby and Castleford to assist with 10 vehicles on fire in woodland.

“Crews extinguished the fire and the incident was left with the police.”

Huge queues have been blighting the cobbled streets of Santorini, made up of rowdy tourists waiting to take a snap in front of the ‘perfect’ view.

Dubbed the most Instagrammable location on the Greek island, two-hour-long queues have caused carnage in the quaint alleys of Oia, the famous cliffside village – all in pursuit of the best angle featuring the famous blue-domed Orthodox Greek churches.

Desperate for the perfect shot, there are already dozens of selfie-hunting holidaymakers queuing around the winding corners as early as 7am, rushing to the famous viewpoint that has been touted by influencers on TikTok as the best location for a photo.

Shocking videos on social media posted this summer have revealed the reality of visiting the once-idyllic Aegean isle, which sees more than 2.4million people pass through its airport every year.

Hordes of tourists have often caused problems in the charming villages of the volcanic island, with authorities recently taking to limiting the amount of cruise passengers allowed to visit in a day to manage over-crowding.

But exasperated sunseekers have taken to bashing particularly shameless selfie-hunting tourists who spend hours in a queue that promises the best backdrop.

One holidaymaker even complained that people standing in the queue would try to fight them as they entered their accommodation, because they thought they were jumping the line. 

Despite the rowdy crowds, the iconic photo spot has been endorsed by several influencers in recent months.

The location’s popularity has led to huge queues blighting the cobbled streets of Santorini, made up of rowdy tourists waiting to take a snap in front of the ‘perfect’ view

Dubbed the most Instagrammable location on the Greek island, two-hour long queues have caused carnage for locals in the village

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Luiza Parente, a self-described creative director with 8.4million followers on TikTok, shared a video earlier this month revealing the extensive queues she endured for the ‘perfect’ picture.

In the same clip, the Portuguese influencer then shares the glamorous images of her posing dramatically in front of the iconic white and blue architecture.

But some users have been far from impressed with the viral videos of the queues, with one proclaiming that ‘social media has ruined tourism’.

‘All this so people can show a posed photo to other people, when they know their real memory of it will be queuing for 2 hours at 7am on holiday for this photo,’ one person complained.

Lia Grammatikopoulou wrote under another viral video: ‘There are plenty of stunning spots in Santorini featuring even more spectacular views than this one. It is really a pity that people only visit the viral TikTok spots and not ask locals for recommendations.’

One holidaymaker added: ‘My accommodation was right next to these. The amount of abuse I got, for the four days I was there, because people thought I was “pushing in”. Mate, I just wanted to get to my room and pool with a view.’ 

Another joked: ‘When having a photo to prove you are having an amazing holiday becomes more important than having an amazing holiday!’

‘Have we all collectively lost our minds’, one woman asked.

In another video similarly exposing ‘Instagram vs reality’, one travel influencer said, ‘Nobody talks about the queue behind the perfect Santorini photo. Worth it or not?’

One woman responded: ‘That is sooo sad, it was not like that seven years ago.’

Dozens of selfie-hunting holidaymakers queue around the winding corners first thing in the morning. One woman on social media asked: ‘Have we all collectively lost our minds’

Santorini Yachting Cruises also responded by saying ‘many visitors travel to Santorini looking for the exact same photo they’ve seen on Instagram, which naturally leads everyone to gather in the same two or three famous spots in Oia’.

It added: ‘The irony is that Santorini is full of incredible viewpoints and hidden corners that are often just as beautiful without the crowds.

‘So while the queues can be frustrating, they’re also a result of people following the same trends and expectations.’

Another influencer filmed the steady increase in tourists from when they first arrived at 7am, which already had sizeable crowds, until 10.30am when scores more tourists arrive.

But by this time, ‘photographing becomes difficult and rushed’ so it would be better to arrive early, she advised.

Despite the tips, one user commented on the video that ‘my worst trip of all time was Santorini’, explaining that the ‘place just has nothing, tons of abandoned buildings, nothing to do. It literally just has this picture. Which is also mid.’

Another wrote: ‘A reminder you could have used the time in the line to explore the rest of the island.’

In recent years, the island introduced new rules and measures to manage the influx of tourists, including a tourist tax, restrictions on access and parking, alongside a proposed ‘saturation law’ limiting daily visitor numbers. 

A limit of 8,000 cruise ship passengers per day has also been enforced. 

Furious locals have even threatened to leave the Greek island after a Santorini councillor told them in a since-deleted Facebook post to stay at home and to keep out of tourists’ way in 2024.

One local resident, Onur Killic, 28, said at the time that there are just ‘too many tourists’ coming to Santorini who leave rubbish behind and sometimes even a ‘bad smell’.

‘It’s hard for locals because we live here. The roads are too crowded and the traffic is much worse. It’s bad for the environment and the cost of everything is out of control; locals cannot pay as prices have gone up,’ the hotel worker told the i Paper.

‘They need to find the right balance. They could limit the amount of cruise ships, but the Government is not doing enough – if this continues I will leave the island.’

This week will see a north-south split in the weather

With the weather mainly playing its part in the rip-roaring success of the Belfast Fleadh Cheoil by remaining dry and bright, the outlook for the week ahead seems a little duller – and damp.

Northern Ireland will see low cloud and frequent rain with temperatures hovering at around 15C as showers gather in from the north and northwest. Wind speed will be low at 7mph, however, gusts of 17mph can be expected so be careful if out on your bike or hanging out that washing.

This week will also see a north-south split in the weather as southern parts of England still bake in a heatwave.

The Met Office said: “This weekend will see a north-south split in the weather. Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to see spells of rain, which might be heavy at times. Further south, England and Wales will remain largely dry, sunny and increasingly warm.”

Deputy Chief Forecaster Mike Silverstone said: “Temperatures will climb through the weekend and, more significantly, through much of next week. After a brief dip on Monday, high pressure will move across the UK before settling to the east, allowing a southerly flow to develop.

“A fairly widespread heatwave is likely across large parts of England and Wales, with hot conditions developing in places. The heat is expected to peak for much of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday, with up to 34C possible in parts of central and southern England and southeast Wales. East Anglia and south-east England, however, could see temperatures even higher on Thursday.

“Humidity levels are also expected to increase through the week, which may make conditions feel more uncomfortable, particularly overnight.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

It’s been 25 years since The Princess Diaries aired, becoming an instant comedy classic and launching its lead Anne Hathaway to stardom. 

Three years later the film spawned a sequel, Royal Engagement, and now two decades on fans are set to receive a conclusion to the storyline with a third film.  

While details of the plot have been kept under wraps, director Adele Lim has promised fans there will be some familiar faces when the franchise returns. 

She revealed: ‘If you were a fan of the original first two movies, I think you can look forward to a lot of fun returns. 

‘We’re going to be able to shoot in Europe and really show the audience Genovia in its full glory.’ 

So what became of the original cast?  

Anne Hathaway – Mia Thermopolis

The Princess Diaries launched Anne into becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood after she charmed audiences with her role as the unwitting heir to the throne of Genovia

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The Princess Diaries launched Anne into becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood after she charmed audiences with her role as the unwitting heir to the throne of Genovia.

Just 18 years old at the time, Anne couldn’t have predicted the career that lay ahead of her – with the actress going on to earn an Oscar, become one of Hollywood’s best paid actresses and boast a movie collection that’s grossed $6.8billion worldwide.

Yet with the dizzying highs of fame came the crushing lows, and in the early 2010s Anne suffered from a wave of online hate so vitriolic that it spawned the name ‘Hatha-hate’, resulting in her losing film roles and struggling with her mental health.

The Hollywood star became the subject of vile and toxic trolling, being dubbed ‘fake’, ‘theatrical’ and winning the title of The Most Annoying Celebrity of 2013, according to a poll by The San Francisco Chronicle, in a shock smear campaign. 

Even her Oscar win for Les Miserables in 2013 couldn’t save her, with the opening line of her acceptance speech – ‘it came true’ – going viral after viewers branded her ‘pretentious’.

Now, however, things couldn’t look more different for Anne, who is this summer’s box office queen after lining up a slew of hits – with the actress even tipped for Oscars glory once more.

Earlier this year she revived her role in another Noughties classic, The Devil Wears Prada, while she’s also currently wowing cinemagoers with her role in The Odyssey. 

She received critical acclaim for her role in indie musical Mother Mary, and is soon set to go on the promo trail for sci-fi film The End of Oak Street (out in August) and thriller Verity (out in October) which are both predicted to do well. 

With so many big films under her belt, it looks set to be an exciting 2027 awards season for Anne.

There is also a chance that Anne could compete against herself at the Oscars after the Academy has announced a change to voting rules that will allow actors to be nominated for multiple performances in the same category.

It will be an exciting start to the year for Anne, who will also then be a new mother, having announced in June that she’s expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman. 

Julie Andrews – Queen Clarisse Renaldi

Julie Andrews was already a well-known star by the time she took on the role of the Queen of Genovia, having won an Oscar for her role in Mary Poppins

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Julie Andrews was already a well-established star when she took on the role of the Queen of Genovia, having won an Oscar for her role in Mary Poppins. 

Yet The Princess Diaries marked a welcome return to the spotlight after taking a slight step back following botched surgery. 

The actress lost her famous four-octave singing voice in 1997 after a routine throat surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York to remove non-cancerous nodules or a cyst. 

The operation left her with permanent scar tissue on her vocal cords, destroying her singing range. 

However, when she sang publicly for the first time since her surgery in the 2004 Princess Diaries sequel, crew members said they cried when she nailed the first take.

In recent years, Julie has slowed down her acting career, sticking to voice roles in hits such as Shrek 2, Despicable Me and Bridgerton.

Last October, the actress reached a major milestone as she celebrated her 90th birthday.

‘I probably feel like in my 50s, honest to God,’ Julie shared during an episode of the Wiser Than Me With Julia Louis-Dreyfus podcast back in 2024. ‘As long as the brain holds out, I’m doing okay,’

The star explained that she now lives a ‘quieter’ life as she has gotten older, but it has been something she has come to enjoy.

‘I don’t go out as much, and I love being home. But I kind of enjoyed that, pulling back a little bit now.’

Julie continued: ‘And of course I’ve got a million thoughts and ideas and hope that I can keep going for a great deal longer. But who knows? And I’m just pleased that I’ve arrived here.’

Héctor Elizondo – Joe

Héctor Elizondo is known for stealing a scene, so it was no surprise he became a fan favourite as bodyguard Joe in The Princess Diaries

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He’s known for stealing a scene, having earned a Golden Globe nomination for just ten minutes of screentime in Pretty Woman. 

So it was no surprise Héctor Elizondo turned bodyguard Joe into a fan favourite in The Princess Diaries. 

After his role in the Noughties romcom he reunited with the director Garry Marshall to work on the likes of New Year’s Eve in 2011 and Mother’s Day in 2016.

In 2008, he joined the cast of the USA Network series Monk as Dr Neven Bell, a role he reprised in 2023 for Mr Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie. 

He also took on the role of Ed Alzate on the Fox comedy Last Man Standing, starring Tim Allen and Nancy Travis.

Proud of his Latino heritage, Héctor has said he does not accept roles that he feels are stereotypical or demeaning in any way. 

He previously revealed he turned down a role in Scarface because: ‘I didn’t want to be associated with Latinos when the association is violence.

‘I didn’t know that in my culture. The violence I experienced was from the non-Latinos.’

Heather Matarazzo – Lilly Moscovitz

Heather Matarazzo made her name in Welcome to the Dollhouse before earning new fans by playing Mia’s eccentric friend, Lilly Moscovitz, in The Princess Diaries

Heather Matarazzo made her name in 1995’s Welcome to the Dollhouse before earning a new legion of fans playing Mia’s eccentric friend, Lilly Moscovitz. 

She continued to land acting roles, notably appearing in the Scream franchise as Martha Meeks, while she also had parts in Sorority Boys, Saved! and Hostel: Part II. 

Three years after The Princess Diaries was released and at the age of 21, Heather came out as a lesbian after telling The Daily News in an interview that she had a girlfriend. 

She is now happily married to writer Heather Turman, whom she met in 2016 on the LA set of Jillian Armenante’s movie Stuck.

The couple moved to Michigan in 2023, where they live with their two cats. 

Heather continues to act, recently playing Judi Spannagel in Wednesday, but in 2022 she revealed she had a career wobble and was considering throwing in the towel.  

‘I have hit my limit with Life today,’ she wrote in a now-deleted tweet. ‘I have hit my limit with whatever games the Universe is playing. I am done. I am tired. I truly feel at a f***ing loss.

‘I feel at a loss because I feel I have done THE WORK, for a long time, with no complaint. 

‘I have taken the disappointments, the rejections, etc., and maintained that rejection is redirection. I have had continual FAITH in the Universe, but today, something broke. I feel cast.

‘I’ve given my life to acting for over 30 years. And am done struggling just to survive,’ she added in another now-deleted tweet.

‘I just need a win. A life-changing win. Cause this ain’t it. F***.’

Mandy Moore – Lana Thomas

The Princess Diaries was Mandy Moore’s first big film role, proving her chops playing mean girl cheerleader Lana Thomas and later going from strength to strength in her career

The Princess Diaries proved to be Mandy Moore’s first big film role, having entered the industry as a singer. 

Yet she proved her chops playing mean girl cheerleader Lana Thomas, quite the departure from her innocent pop career. 

Since then, her career has gone from strength to strength, starring in films such as A Walk to Remember, License to Wed and 47 Meters Down. 

She also voiced Rapunzel in the Disney musical fantasy film, Tangled.

Mandy also famously starred as Rebecca Pearson in the NBC series This Is Us, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2019. 

Mandy married musician Ryan Adams in 2009 but the couple split six years later citing ‘irreconcilable differences’. 

She later went on to accuse him of psychological abuse when she and several other women accused him of harassment and misconduct while speaking to the New York Times. 

Ryan, who denied the accusations, was said to have offered to advance their musical careers before he allegedly became vengeful and obsessive and pursued the women for sex in return.

The women, who included the singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers and an anonymous woman who was allegedly only 14 at the time that she began corresponding with Ryan, accused him of being verbally and emotionally abusive.

Although Ryan has continued to deny the most serious accusations, he later shared a milquetoast public apology in which he wrote: ‘To anyone I have ever hurt, however unintentionally, I apologize deeply and unreservedly.’

Mandy is now married to musician Taylor Goldsmith, and they share sons Gus, five, and Ozzie, three, and daughter Lou, two.

Caroline Goodall – Helen Thermopolis

Caroline Goodall began her career on the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before pivoting to movies and landing the role of Mia’s caring but chaotic mother Helen Thermopolis

English-Australian actress Caroline Goodall began her career on the stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before pivoting to movies. 

She played Mia’s caring but chaotic mother Helen Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, reprising her role in the sequel, Royal Engagement. 

Caroline later reunited with Mandy Moore in Chasing Liberty. 

She worked with Steven Spielberg twice in Hook then Schindler’s List and starred alongside Bruce Willis and Henry Cavill in the thriller The Cold Light Of Day. 

Caroline also appeared in The Dressmaker with Kate Winslet and Judy Davis and played the Queen Mother’s friend Lady Doris, in the first season of The Crown.

She has since turned her hand to producing – working on the Brian Cox film The Bay of Silence in 2020.

Robert Schwartzman – Michael Moscovitz

As part of the Coppola dynasty, it was no surprise Robert Schwartzman felt comfortable on a movie set, landing a role as Mia’s love interest Michael Moscovitz

As a member of an acting dynasty, it was no surprise Robert Schwartzman felt comfortable on a movie set, landing a role as Mia’s love interest Michael Moscovitz. 

He also landed roles in Lick the Star and The Virgin Suicides, which were directed by his cousin Sofia Coppola. 

As a member of the Coppola brood, he is the nephew of film-maker Francis Ford Coppola and cousin of actor Nicolas Cage and filmmakers Sofia Coppola, Roman Coppola and Christopher Coppola.

Yet music proved to be Robert’s main love and he founded rock band Rooney that is still performing to this day. 

The group has also toured the nation with acts such as Weezer, The Strokes, Travis, Keane and Queens of the Stone Age.

Robert hasn’t turned his back on movies completely though, most recently directing 2023’s The Good Half which starred Nick Jonas, Brittany Snow and David Arquette. 

He is also the founder of Utopia, an American film production, distribution and sales agency. 

Erik von Detten – Josh Bryant

Erik von Detten played popular highschooler and object of Mia’s affections, Josh Bryant, but the star has stepped away from acting over the past decade

Erik von Detten was the all-American heart-throb that played popular highschooler and object of Mia’s affections, Josh Bryant. 

Along with The Princess Diaries, the California native is best known for roles in Days Of Our Lives, Escape To Witch Mountain, Toy Story, Brink! Meego, Complete Savages and So Weird.

He also voiced Erwin Lawson through the full run of Disney Channel series Recess and its four films. 

Yet Erik stepped away from acting over the past decade, with his last credit being his reprisal of Sid Phillips in 2010’s Toy Story 3.

As of 2018, Erik has worked for a precious metals asset management firm and as a sales manager at a commodities brokerage firm.

He married his wife Angela, a real estate agent, in 2018 and the couple have three children. 

Patrick John Flueger – Jeremiah Hart

The Princess Diaries marked Patrick John Flueger’s film debut, playing Jeremiah Hart, and he went on to land smaller TV roles (pictured right in Chicago PD)

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Patrick John Flueger made his film debut in The Princess Diaries playing Jeremiah Hart, a friend of Mia and Lilly’s and an aspiring magician. 

He went on to land small roles in TV shows such as JAG, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Miami. 

Yet it was his role as Shawn Farrell in The 4400 that proved to be his TV breakout. 

While on the show, he landed the role of Rusty in the film The World’s Fastest Indian, which starred Anthony Hopkins and Antony Starr.

After a recurring role in Chicago Fire he landed a main part in the show’s spin-off Chicago PD as rookie officer Adam Ruzek. 

Sean O’Bryan – Mr O’Connell

After starting out in the Nineites, Sean O’Bryan played Patrick O’Connell in The Princess Diaries – Mia’s English teacher who strikes up a relationship with her mum Helen

Sean O’Bryan played Patrick O’Connell, Mia’s English teacher who strikes up a relationship with her mum Helen. 

He began his acting career in the Nineties, appearing in the likes of Roseanne, Six Feet Under, Criminal Minds, The King of Queens and Dexter. 

More recent television credits include CSI, Bones, Melissa & Joey, Hot In Cleveland, The Mentalist and Leverage. 

He also had a recurrent role as Ron Donahue on The Middle.

Sean also has several film credits to his name, most recently the 2024 horror movie, Traumatika.  

Sandra Oh – Vice Principal Gupta

After rising to fame in Canada for her role in Double Happiness, Sandra Oh starred in The Princess Diaries as Geraldine Gupta, the vice principal of Mia’s school

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Sandra Oh starred in The Princess Diaries as Geraldine Gupta, the vice principal of Mia’s school. 

She first came to prominence in her native Canada for her lead performance in the 1994 film Double Happiness, with The Princess Diaries showing her off to a wider audience. 

Yet it was her role as Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy that proved to be her breakthrough. 

After joining in the first season of the hit show, she scooped both a 2005 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series and a 2006 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2009, she received her fifth consecutive Emmy nomination for her work on the series.

Then her role in the 2018 BBC America series Killing Eve landed her global fame.

Sandra won the Best Actress in a TV Drama award at the Golden Globes for the role, becoming the first Asian woman to win in that category in almost 40 years.

Most recently she appeared alongside Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves in Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, Good Fortune. 

Larry Miller – Paolo

Larry Miller stole his scenes playing Paolo Puttanesca, Mia’s flamboyant hairdresser and beautician. In 2012 he fell into a coma after falling and hitting his head but has since recovered

Larry Miller stole his scenes playing Paolo Puttanesca, Mia’s flamboyant hairdresser and beautician. 

He first gained mainstream attention for his part as a store clerk in Pretty Woman, which also starred The Princess Diaries’s Héctor Elizondo. 

Larry went on to appear in the likes of The Nutty Professor, 10 Things I Hate About You and Max Keeble’s Big Move. 

In 2009, he reprised his role as Walter Stratford in the television adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Larry also started his own podcast, This Week with Larry Miller, but was forced to suspend it after he fell and hit his head in 2012. 

He did not reveal the ordeal until the following year, when his agent Michael Hansen revealed Larry had fallen into a coma and was put on life support for one month after the accident.

‘He was hovering between life and death,’ Michael said. ‘It’s a miracle he woke up… He’s lucky to be alive.’

Larry later returned to his podcast, saying: ‘I’m very thankful to have recovered from a traumatic brain injury so quickly.’

He is married to TV writer Eileen Conn and the pair share two children.  

Andy Burnham has reportedly been presented with a new post-Brexit proposal which calls for Britain to rejoin the EU’s single market.

The proposal would see Britain promise to extend the protection of Britain’s Armed Forces and nuclear deterrent across Europe, in exchange for access to the EU’s free-trade zone.

The prime minister has promised to “consolidate the progress made on the existing UK-EU negotiations” undertaken by Sir Keir Starmer – but it is not yet known whether he will stick to his predecessor’s red lines as Labour draws up its manifesto for the next election, which included no return to freedom of movement and no return to the single market or customs union.

According to The Telegraph, former Tory MP Nick Boles, who quit the party in 2019 over Brexit and went on to help Sir Keir prepare for government, has drawn up a plan which would allow Britain to rejoin the single market.

The proposal, which has reportedly been seen by top government officials, including national security adviser Jonathan Powell, is said to include the suggestion that Britain should push for the creation of a “European confederation”, which would link the single market with Nato’s defence commitments.

Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway and the Western Balkan countries would also be among those invited to join the confederation.

Britain’s obligations as part of the agreement would include spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence, and extending its nuclear umbrella across the non-Nato allies which Trident does not currently cover.

In exchange, the UK would be allowed to join the EU’s free trade zone without having to accept controversial terms, such as freedom of movement or having to join the Euro.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Boles insisted a new strategy for defence cooperation with Europe is needed because there is no longer any guarantee Donald Trump will “defend Europe as if it were Kansas”.

“If we’re trying to do a bilateral negotiation in which we try to persuade the EU to have us have access to the single market for goods, we will fail,” he said.

“But if we make a proposal that solves other problems they have, like Ukraine… that’s the possibility where the selling might be easier. We can explain this isn’t just a selfish British deal, it’s a deal you can use to solve other problems yourselves.”

However, a Cabinet Office source pointed out that the government regularly receives “speculative policy ideas”, adding: “It would be incorrect to suggest these are all acted upon”.

It is understood the government is committed to the red lines set out in Sir Keir Starmer’s manifesto for the duration of this parliament.

Reacting to the proposal, Liberal Democrat MP Al Pinkerton, the party’s Europe spokesperson, told The Independent: “Andy Burnham’s silence on Europe can’t last much longer.

“If he wants to offer Labour and the country a different direction, he needs to tell us whether that includes dropping the government’s damaging red lines on Europe.”

“Britain needs a government prepared to be ambitious about Europe. It’s time Andy Burnham told us whether he is,” he added.

Meanwhile, pro-EU campaign group Best for Britain said Mr Burnham’s “ambitious domestic agenda requires economic growth that can only be found by full EU membership, as our independent modelling by Frontier Economics shows”.

“While all creative ideas for closer relations with our nearest trading partner are welcome, the new prime minister is too patriotic to put Britain in a ‘rule-taker max’ position.

“Industry and voters want us to have an official seat at the table, to deliver for business, workers, the climate and urgently, the war against Putin,” Naomi Smith, the organisation’s chief executive said.

It comes just weeks after a government minister failed to rule out putting a promise to rejoin the EU in Labour’s next manifesto, suggesting that Mr Burnham could attempt to unpick Brexit in the next parliament.

Minister for European relations Hamish Falconer insisted that the government is “not talking about rejoining today”, but added: “What we do in our next manifesto will be a question for the Labour Party.”

The prime minister has previously said he is in favour of the UK rejoining the EU, but later clarified that he will not try to rejoin, arguing that the country would be stuck in a “permanent rut if we’re just constantly arguing”.

Asked last month how the new PM will approach Britain’s relationship with the EU, following a “reset” of relations undertaken by Sir Keir, Mr Falconer told Sky News: “The previous prime minister did really important work to help reset relations, and I want to consolidate some of that work. But we also need to see how we can go further.

“Even since we started those talks, the world has changed quite dramatically. The threats have changed quite dramatically – both talking about some of the threats in Eastern Europe, but clearly there are economic security threats, disinformation threats too.”

Asked whether he agrees with former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who called for Britain to rejoin the EU in a recent interview with The Independent, Mr Falconer said: “Look, the questions for the next manifesto are not yet sorted, but I think it’s been absolutely clear from what the prime minister has said, and I share his views on this: we had this vote 10 years ago. It was the will of the country. It was the will of my own constituency as well. We’re not backsliding from that.

“The world has changed since 2016. We need to make sure that our relationship with Europe changes too. Europe and the UK both face real challenges.”

Asked whether he could rule out reopening the issue of Brexit, he said: “We’re not talking about rejoining today. What we do in our next manifesto will also be a question for the Labour Party.”

Downing Street has been contacted for comment.

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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER

Updated: 16:30 BST, 9 August 2026

Ruth Madeley is currently taking on lead role, Dr Gabrielle Fox, in BBC’s thrilling new series The Rapture

BBC viewers have been left hooked with new thriller show The Rapture.

The five-part psychological series is adapted from Liz Jensen’s bestselling novel. A synopsis teases of the show: “As temperatures rise, a convicted murderer foretells apocalyptic disaster – is she a manipulative psychopath or does she know the truth? High-stakes thriller crackling with danger.”

In the show, Ruth Madeley plays Dr Gabrielle Fox, who starts a new job at a psychiatric hospital where she is assigned 17-year-old inmate Bethany Krall, played by India Amarteifio.

As talented actress Ruth, 39, takes on the lead role, viewers have been keen to learn more about the actress’ life off-screen, especially as she recently appeared in BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

Huge family discovery

On Ruth’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, the genealogy team uncovered what turned out to be a huge family secret on her dad’s side.

The family discovered that Ruth’s grandmother, Beatrice, was adopted and no one else knew, including her father, Geoff, as his mother Beatrice never told him this fact.

Talking about the discovery on the show, Ruth said: “No one knew. My dad had no idea. So that was a huge shock. As far as, like, we’re concerned, we’re all just born, raised, died in Manchester.”

Meanwhile, while talking to her father, he responded over the bombshell: “When I got that phone call, I thought, ‘what’s going on?’ You could have knocked me down with a feather” to which Ruth replied: “Wow!”

Her dad continued: “I’m dead surprised that my grandma never said anything. That’s the only thing that I can’t get my head around.”

On the show, Ruth revealed that she and her family – her parents and sister Liz – are “really close, like, shockingly close”. The actress joked: “We are quite a stubborn, determined family, so it wouldn’t surprise me if we had traits of that here, there and everywhere.”

‘Epic’ wedding

Away from the TV sets and shows, Ruth is loved-up with her husband Joe Lawrence, whom she has known since they were five-years-old.

Unlike his wife Ruth, Joe doesn’t work in showbiz or the acting world. He is the owner of a company that trains people to operate cranes and for many years he was also a motorbike racer.

In 2024, after 12 years together, Ruth and Joe made things official and tied the knot. Talking about their wedding on Who Do You Think You Are?, Ruth revealed they had their wedding reception at fully accessible theatre, 53two in Manchester, which Ruth is a patron of.

Ruth said: “It is like my special place. I feel very at home here. And the best bit, so we had our wedding reception here and it was epic. It was so good.”

The actress previously said: “We were friends forever, we were always going to end up together, and obviously now he thinks that what I’m doing for a living is absolutely hysterical. He’s not an actor, he’s very grounded, it’s nice to be able to go home and not talk about it.”

The couple have two fur children – a cat and an adorable Bulldog, who both made an appearance of Who Do You Think You Are?

Acting career

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Ruth, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, underwent many spinal operations throughout her childhood. Opening up, Ruth said: “In my secondary school years, those teenage years were really, really hard, but it was never seen as a reason to not achieve or not be happy.

“I never grew up seeing anyone who looked like me on screen. I really didn’t. Oh, acting was a complete accident. I was doing some work experience at the BBC and a producer I met was casting something for, I think it was a children’s drama.

“Yeah, I landed my first role and it developed in a very wonderful way, thank goodness.”

The actress joked: “I absolutely love my job. I feel so privileged to say that I do what I do for a living. I mean, I would do it for free. Actually, don’t say that on camera!”

A 200-year-old oak tree in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, has been felled by Huntingdonshire District Council, sparking anger among locals who say the homes nearby should never have been built so close to the tree

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CambridgeshireLive readers have voiced their concerns following the removal of a long-established oak tree, arguing that neighbouring properties should never have been constructed in such close proximity. Many believe the planning system failed to safeguard a mature tree, and that replacement planting cannot compensate for what has been removed.

Residents in a part of St Ives have been left feeling “deeply upset” after a 200-year-old tree was felled. Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) maintains that removing the tree was a “last resort”, as it was causing “structural damage” to three nearby properties.

However, local residents claim they received no notification about plans to fell the tree, and believe a distinctive feature of their street has been removed.

Huntingdonshire District Council took the decision to remove the tree as it was causing “structural damage” to three neighbouring properties. A HDC spokesperson said: “We understand why people are upset by the loss of this mature oak tree.

“The tree was removed following a complex insurance subsidence claim affecting three neighbouring properties. Independent investigations concluded that it was a significant contributing factor to ongoing structural damage.”

The council spent three years attempting to identify options to preserve the tree, however “no viable alternative was identified”. They added: “Although the tree appeared healthy, healthy trees can contribute to subsidence due to soil conditions and moisture demand.”

One of the readers, Archer3757, comments: “The tree was there a long time before the houses, typical council.”

Carbonneutralfeminist says: “The tree was there long before. The houses obviously weren’t built with adequate foundations or with regard to the location. They should have been demolished or repaired another way.”

Over on Facebook, Sarah S mentions: “Perhaps when the houses were built, someone should’ve advised that the oak tree needed more space around it for the roots and the houses wouldn’t have been built so close.”

Darren S says: “They did the same thing in Peterborough a couple of years ago, they chopped down the Bretton Oak Tree, which was 600 years old, dating from the 14th century, because some new build houses started suffering foundation problems. If anything, the problem houses in these cases should be pulled down rather than the ancient trees that were there first.”

Jo F asks: “Why do they keep doing this! Trees help keep the land cool with shade, are home to wildlife and help with flooding. Planting new ones is just not cutting it, as they take decades to get to a size that makes a difference. An oak tree was felled near us recently that should have been left alone. Perhaps they shouldn’t have put the houses so close.”

Tracy H writes: “Perhaps the planners should look better at applications before granting permission, as this is happening too often. The tree was well established long before the houses were built. We had to have a tree removed because of the same issue, despite developers and the council being made aware that the new homes were too close to the existing trees.”

June S says: “Cutting trees down, building on greenbelt, does anyone care about the environment?

Rod I mentions: “The tree was there many years before the current houses were built. I also understand it was there before the previous houses that were demolished in the 80s. Going forward, you would like to think that HDC would take trees into account, leave them standing, and not build too close to them. Giving older trees significance in any future construction plan.”

Carole Ann M says: “Okay, they shouldn’t have built the houses so close to it in the first place, but I can see their point. I have 9 huge trees outside my property, not only do they take up 75 per cent of the light. The council had to remove the brick wall surrounding my area and replace it with fencing. I can’t plant anything for the roots, and they are now lifting up the slabs on my patio and will soon go into the drains and foundations. But having said that, these are not 200 years old.”

Heather W asks: “I don’t understand why this significant tree was not protected by a Preservation Order.”

Pauline D says: “Better than falling in a storm and killing someone.”

What else could the council do other than cut down this tree? Comment HERE to have your say.