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  • Samsung Introduces Future-Ready Mobile Security for Personalized AI Experiences – Samsung Newsroom South Africa

    Samsung Introduces Future-Ready Mobile Security for Personalized AI Experiences – Samsung Newsroom South Africa

    New innovations including Knox Enhanced Encrypted Protection, updated Knox Matrix threat response and quantum-resistant Secure Wi-Fi strengthen privacy and user control for upcoming Galaxy smartphones

    Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced a new set of security and privacy updates rolling out with its upcoming Samsung Galaxy smartphones with One UI 8. These updates reinforce Samsung’s commitment to delivering powerful, trusted mobile technology in a rapidly evolving digital world by introducing new protections for on-device AI, expanding cross-device threat detection and enhancing network security with quantum-resistant encryption.

     

    Next-Generation Mobile Security for AI Personalization

    Samsung is introducing,[1] a new architecture designed to safeguard the next generation of personalized, AI-powered features, as its latest innovation in mobile security. KEEP creates encrypted, app-specific storage environments within the device’s secure storage area, ensuring that each app can access only its own sensitive information and nothing more.

     

    Supporting Galaxy’s Personal Data Engine (PDE),[2] KEEP helps secure a user’s deeply personal insights – such as routines and preferences – that enable features like Now Brief and Smart Gallery search. These insights stay entirely on-device, protected by KEEP and further secured by Knox Vault, Samsung’s tamper-resistant hardware security environment. The result is a seamless foundation for Galaxy AI that delivers personalized intelligence while keeping data tightly contained and under the user’s control.

    KEEP’s system-level structure allows it to scale across Galaxy AI innovations. In addition to PDE, it now protects Now Brief, Smart Suggestions and other on-device features that rely on user-specific inputs – enabling more advanced AI experiences without compromising privacy. With KEEP, Samsung is redefining how mobile devices safeguard data in the background to elevate privacy from a setting to an embedded design principle.

     

    Smarter, More Connected Threat Response with Knox Matrix

    As AI becomes more integrated across the ecosystem, Samsung is advancing protections that offer not just stronger security, but greater transparency and control for users, with Knox Matrix leading the way. Through One UI 8, Samsung is evolving Knox Matrix to deliver more proactive and user-friendly protection for connected Galaxy devices. When a device is flagged for serious risk – such as system manipulation or identity forgery – it is designed to automatically sign out of the Samsung Account, cutting off access to cloud-connected services to prevent threats from spreading.[3]

     

    Users are notified across their connected Galaxy devices and guided to the ‘Security status of your devices’ page, where they can review the issue and take action. Even devices without the latest security status updates trigger a yellow-level warning, helping users respond before vulnerabilities grow.

    Together, these updates make Samsung Galaxy’s ecosystem-level protection more dynamic, intuitive and visible, empowering users to maintain trust across all their devices with more confidence and clarity.

     

    Secure Wi-Fi Strengthened with Quantum-Resistant Encryption

    In continuation of its commitment to quantum-safe security, Samsung is bringing post-quantum cryptography to Secure Wi-Fi[4] extending the trusted approach first introduced on the Galaxy S25 series through Post-Quantum Enhanced Data Protection (EDP). Secure Wi-Fi is now being upgraded with a new cryptographic framework[5] designed to strengthen network protection against emerging threats, particularly those anticipated in the era of quantum computing. This enhancement secures the key exchange process at the core of encrypted connections, helping ensure robust privacy even over public networks.

     

    Quantum computing, once fully realized, could undermine many of today’s data protection methods. By integrating post-quantum cryptography, Secure Wi-Fi is built to withstand future attacks that capture encrypted data with the intent to break it once quantum technology matures – a tactic known as “harvest now, decrypt later.” This upgrade fortifies the secure tunnel between Galaxy devices and Samsung servers, reinforcing the integrity of data transmissions in high-risk environments like public Wi-Fi.

     

    In addition to this future-ready foundation, Secure Wi-Fi offers a suite of advanced privacy features:

    • Auto Protect: Automatically activates in public places like cafés, airports or hotels, securing Wi-Fi connections without requiring user action.
    • Enhanced Privacy Protection (EPP): Encrypts internet traffic and routes it through multiple layers, combining packet encryption and relay to anonymize device information and help prevent tracking.
    • Protection Activity: Provides visibility into protection history by showing which apps and networks were secured and how much data was encrypted over time.

     

    A Trusted Platform with Built-In Safeguards

    In addition to its latest innovations, Samsung continues to strengthen the core protections that underpin the Galaxy experience. These features reflect a multi-layered security approach that protects across hardware and software, while giving users greater visibility and control:

    • Knox Vault secures sensitive credentials such as passwords, PINs and biometrics in a physically isolated environment, helping to keep them protected even if the main operating system is compromised.
    • Auto Blocker helps provide defense by default, blocking unauthorized app installs, restricting command-based attacks and mitigating risks from potential zero-click threats.
    • Advanced Intelligence Settings gives users the option to turn off online data processing for AI features, so personal information can stay on-device, fully under their control.
    • Enhanced Theft Protection helps protect personal data even in high-risk situations such as robbery, using safeguards like Identity Check and Security Delay to prevent unauthorized access.

     

    This latest set of updates reinforces Samsung’s long-standing commitment to mobile security that evolves with innovation. It strengthens on-device privacy for personalized AI with , expands transparency and user control through Knox Matrix, and introduces quantum-resistant protection to Secure Wi-Fi for a more future-ready Galaxy experience. As new security challenges emerge, Samsung remains focused on delivering safeguards that are built in, always on and ready for what’s next.

    [1] Available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 8 or later.

    [2] The Personal Data Engine functions when the Personal Data Intelligence menu is on. Analyzed data will be deleted once the Personal Data Intelligence menu is turned off.

    [3] Available on Galaxy smartphones and tablets with One UI 8 or later. Availability may vary by model and/or market.

    [4] Secure Wi-Fi offers free protection of up to 1024MB per month for Android OS 13 or later, and 250MB per month for Android OS 12 or earlier versions. Availability details may vary by market or network provider and connectivity is subject to applicable network environments.

    [5] This upgrade applies a post-quantum cryptographic algorithm certified under NIST FIPS 203 (ML-KEM). Availability may vary by market, model, and OS version.

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  • GLP-1s May Ease Symptom Burden in Patients With Fibromyalgia

    GLP-1s May Ease Symptom Burden in Patients With Fibromyalgia

    TOPLINE:

    The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was linked to lower pain and fatigue in patients with fibromyalgia, according to a large-scale health records analysis.

    METHODOLOGY:

    • Researchers used the TriNetX database to identify patients with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, with or without documented use of GLP-1s.
    • Used propensity score matching to form two patient cohorts (GLP-1 users vs nonusers), each consisting of 38,439 patients.
    • Assessed for documented opioid use and International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes for chronic pain, fatigue, and malaise.
    • Followed patients for 5 years, starting 1 year after their fibromyalgia diagnosis and initiation of GLP-1 medication.

    TAKEAWAY:

    • Patients with fibromyalgia who were taking GLP-1s were less likely to use opioids than the comparison group (47.3% vs 59.9%).
    • The GLP-1 group also had lower rates of reported fatigue, malaise, and pain.
    • Ongoing fibromyalgia care (defined by the presence of the ICD-10 code for fibromyalgia) was lower in the GLP-1 group (39.1%) than in the nonuser group (55.7%).
    • Additional research is needed using validated outcome measures like the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System.

    IN PRACTICE:

    “The way that I use it in my practice these days is that if I have a patient with chronic pain or with fibromyalgia who has comorbidities that already have an FDA approval for GLP-1 use, such as obesity, diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnea, I would encourage them to go to their primary care physician and maybe consider getting started on a GLP-1,” said presenter Nouran Eshak, MB ChB, of the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

    SOURCE:

    This abstract was presented at the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2025 Annual Meeting in Barcelona, Spain.

    LIMITATIONS:

    This study had a retrospective design and relied on ICD-10 coding. Validated fibromyalgia-specific symptom scales or outcome measures were not available. Researchers were unable to account for confounders such as duration of illness, symptom severity, GLP-1 dosage, or access to healthcare.

    DISCLOSURES:

    The study authors disclosed having no relevant financial relationships.

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  • Keywords Studios Appoints Jonathan “JZ” Zweig as Chief Revenue Officer

    Elevating Global Collaboration and Value

    In his new role, Jonathan will lead a global function and work closely with Keywords’ studios and teams to align solutions with partner goals and enhance delivery through technology-enabled capabilities. His focus is on ensuring Keywords continues to provide meaningful value and remains a trusted global partner, with a deep understanding of both the creative process and the business of building IPs that inspire lasting fandom.

    Advancing the Keywords Mission

    Jonathan’s appointment supports Keywords Studios’ mission to help partners imagine more – whether that’s scaling a franchise, launching a new IP or finding smarter ways to bring ambitious creative visions to life.

    Jonathan Zweig commented:
    “Keywords Studios has built an impressive global presence with exceptional talent. This is a time of change across the industry, but also one full of possibility. I’m looking forward to working closely with our partners to support their goals, unlock new opportunities, and connect with fans in meaningful ways.”

    A Passion for Games

    A lifelong gamer, Jonathan can often be found playing Hearthstone and other favourite titles. He brings both extensive industry expertise and genuine passion to the role.

    Welcome aboard, JZ!


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  • Two crew hurt, two missing in attack on ship off Yemen; Houthis say they sunk Greek carrier – Reuters

    1. Two crew hurt, two missing in attack on ship off Yemen; Houthis say they sunk Greek carrier  Reuters
    2. Crew abandons cargo ship in Red Sea after drone, grenade attack  Al Jazeera
    3. Crew abandons Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ship attacked in the Red Sea, UK military says  AP News
    4. Two dead in Houthi speedboat attack on cargo ship in Red Sea  The Guardian
    5. UN Chief Calls for Talks Amid New Red Sea Strikes  Mirage News

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  • Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef faces alarming coral loss following 2024 bleaching-Xinhua

    SYDNEY, July 8 (Xinhua) — Lizard Island on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has suffered one of the world’s worst coral die-offs, with 92 percent of surveyed corals lost after the 2024 bleaching event, new research has revealed.

    Researchers used drone imagery to assess the Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event in 2024 at Lizard Island, where 96 percent of corals were bleached and mortality averaged 92 percent, with some sites losing over 99 percent of corals, according to a statement released recently by Australia’s Griffith University.

    “This marks one of the highest coral mortality rates ever documented globally,” said the study’s lead researcher Vincent Raoult from Griffith University’s School of Environment.

    Raoult described the mortality as “unprecedented,” especially given that Lizard Island experienced less heat stress than other parts of the Great Barrier Reef.

    Drone technology enabled precise mapping of the widespread bleaching, said Jane Williamson from the Macquarie University in Sydney, also the study’s senior author, who stressed the urgent need for climate action, warning that repeated heatwaves could irreversibly damage coral reefs.

    Lizard Island’s reefs remain fragile after years of repeated damage, such as bleaching, cyclones, and Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks, and scientists will monitor them through 2026 for signs of recovery, according to the study published in Coral Reefs, the journal of the International Coral Reef Society. ■

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  • England U19 Finish Series With ODI Win Over India

    England U19 Finish Series With ODI Win Over India

    England U19s ended their youth ODI series against India on a high with an impressive seven-wicket victory at Visit Worcestershire New Road.

    The tourists took the series by a 3-2 margin but England deservedly won the final game after an excellent bowling display restricted India’s power-packed batting line-up to 210 for nine. A strong collective effort saw all six bowlers take wickets with Ralphie Albert (two for 24) and Alex French (two for 37) most impressive. Only RS Ambrish (66 not out from 81 balls) passed 40.

    England then cruised to 211 for three with 113 balls to spare. Ben Mayes (82 not out ,76 balls) and Thomas Rew (49 not out, 37) saw their side home at a canter after Ben Dawkins (66, 53) laid the platform with his third successive score in the sixties.

    After India chose to bat, England’s rejigged seam attack began superbly with French and Matt Firbank each striking in their first over. Ayush Mhatre’s unproductive series concluded with a careless flick to mid on off Firbank before French added the big wicket of Vihaan Malhotra. Scorer of a high-class century in the previous game, Malhotra edged a superb delivery to wicketkeeper Rew.

    Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, 322 from 162 balls in the first four games in the series, this time lacked fluency. He smote Firbank for successive sixes but was well-contained apart from that before, on 33 from 42, slicing Sebastian Morgan to deep third.

    Leicestershire seamer Alex Green maintained the pressure and was rewarded with the wicket of Rahul Kmar, well-caught on the long leg rope by Dawkins. When England turned to spin, Albert soon ousted the dangerous Harvansh Pangalia (24, 37) lbw, sweeping,

    Albert added the wicket of Kanishk Chouhan, slickly stumped by Rew having been lured down the wicket, and it was left to Ambrish to ensure the innings filled its 50 overs. He did so with a skilful half-century, shepherding the tail.

    England’s reply took an early hit when Joe Moores bottom-edged a pull at Deepesh Davendra to wicketkeeper Pangalia, but Dawkins and Mayes broke the back of the chase with a stand of 107 in 13 overs. Dawkins batted with increasing authority until, in pursuit of his fourth six, he lifted Naman Pushpak to long on where Chauhan took an excellent running catch.

    When Pushpak turned one through the gate of Rocky Flintoff, India had a glimmer of hope, but captain Rew reached the crease with the equation still very favourable to England – 90 needed from 31 overs. Mayes reached his half-century from 48 balls and stayed strong to unfurl an immaculately organised innings while Rew ended the match with a flurry of boundaries against a flagging attack in an unbroken stand of 90 from 73 balls, as England chased down 211 with comfort.

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  • SmallRig Prime Day Deals – Up to 30% Discount on Camera Gear Accessories

    SmallRig Prime Day Deals – Up to 30% Discount on Camera Gear Accessories

    Amazon Prime Day Deals run from July 8-11, and SmallRig is offering up to 30% off a wide range of gear, including batteries, cages, LED lights, and accessories. These are the kinds of tools we actually use all the time, not the ones that just collect dust in a drawer. So let’s take a look at their offers!

    If you’ve worked on any kind of shoot in the last decade-plus, chances are you’ve got some SmallRig gear in your kit already. A cage, a handle, a power plate. Probably more than one. It’s everywhere because it’s affordable, well thought out, and does the job. This sale makes it easier to round out a rig or pick up extras without spending a ton.

    VB99 Mini V-mount battery. Image credit: SmallRig

    SmallRig batteries – 25% to 35% off

    SmallRig’s line of V-mount batteries has grown a lot in the past couple of years. They’ve focused on keeping things compact, adding USB-C output, and giving you good runtime without a lot of bulk. Whether you’re building out a mirrorless rig or powering lights and monitors, these fit into just about any setup.

    The VB99 SE got its own spotlight on CineD when it launched. It’s compact, has plenty of ports, and doesn’t weigh your rig down. It’s one of the more versatile options in the lineup.

    Here’s what’s on sale for Prime Day:

    Image credit: SmallRig

    SmallRig lighting – 20% off

    If you haven’t looked at SmallRig’s lighting gear in a while, they’ve been slowly building out a full range. There are compact panel lights, RGB units, softboxes, and full COB fixtures with mounting kits. The RC 220 Pro is a strong, all-around light with punchy output and a clean color profile. If you need something more portable, the P96 or RF 10C can live in your bag for those quick setups or fill-light moments.

    Here’s what’s on sale for Prime Day:

    SmallRig x Potato Jet TRIBEX Tripod. Image credit: SmallRig

    SmallRig tripod system – 20% – 30% off

    SmallRig has a solid range of tripods on sale this year. Some are lightweight and simple, good for travel or quick setups, and others are built for heavier work. The one that stands out is the SmallRig x Potato Jet TRIBEX system. It’s made of carbon fiber, comes with a proper fluid head, and features a one-handed X-Clutch release that actually makes setup quick. CineD had a first look at it earlier this year. It’s one of the few support systems in this price range that feels like it was designed by someone who actually shoots.

    Here’s what’s on sale for Prime Day:

    Image credit: SmallRig

    One-hour flash sale

    Also worth noting: They’re running a 1-hour flash sale on July 8th, 12–1 PM PDT (UTC-7) for the US, and 3–4 PM CEST (GMT+2) for Europe. It’s a limited-time deal, so if you’ve been eyeing any gear, this is one to jump on.

    Here are the links to their Amazon stores:

    Smallrig has got everything from gimbal accessories to power kits to weird little adapters you didn’t know you needed.

    Let us know what you’re picking up this Prime Day or what SmallRig gear has earned a permanent place in your kit.


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  • New AI tool to unlock reliable gut microbiota analysis

    New AI tool to unlock reliable gut microbiota analysis

    Scientists at the University of Tokyo, Japan, developed an AI neural network to find relationships in a dataset on gut bacteria that current analytical tools could not reliably identify. The team says its VBayesMM method facilitates the analysis of complex biomedical multiomics data and can improve the understanding and treatment of human diseases.

    Gut bacteria influence many health-related issues, from digestion to immunity and mental well-being. However, the vast variations and species make research challenging. Moreover, bacteria produce and modify numerous metabolites — chemicals that act like molecular messengers throughout the body, affecting processes from the immune system and metabolism to brain function and mood. 

    “The problem is that we’re only beginning to understand which bacteria produce which human metabolites and how these relationships change in different diseases,” says project researcher Tung Dang from the Tsunoda lab in the university’s Department of Biological Sciences. 

    “By accurately mapping these bacteria-chemical relationships, we could potentially develop personalized treatments. Imagine being able to grow a specific bacterium to produce beneficial human metabolites or designing targeted therapies that modify these metabolites to treat diseases.”

    VBayesMM combines deep learning with Bayesian inference, a method that helps update predictions based on new data and measures confidence in those predictions. The study authors say the tool “substantially outperforms existing methods,” with an improved run-time and enhanced biological interpretability. 

    It can handle and communicate issues of uncertainty, which gives researchers more confidence than a tool that does not. 

    Prioritizing key players

    The researchers note that while the human body comprises 30–40 trillion cells, the intestines contain around 100 trillion microbial cells. Gathering and analyzing data to find interesting patterns among the data is a “monumental undertaking.”

    The authors say human microbiome studies continually reveal new associations between microbiome compositions and diseases, allowing for potential applications to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. 

    “Our system, VBayesMM, automatically distinguishes the key players that significantly influence metabolites from the vast background of less relevant microbes, while also acknowledging uncertainty about the predicted relationships, rather than providing overconfident but potentially wrong answers,” elaborates Dang. 

    Human microbiome studies continually reveal new associations between microbiome compositions and diseases.“When tested on real data from sleep disorder, obesity, and cancer studies, our approach consistently outperformed existing methods and identified specific bacterial families that align with known biological processes, giving confidence that it discovers real biological relationships rather than meaningless statistical patterns.”

    For their study in Briefings in Bioinformatics, the researchers tested their model’s performance on four public microbiome datasets with host metabolome data. These datasets vary in complexity and size, from hundreds to tens of thousands of taxonomic units.  

    Future research

    VBayesMM is optimized to deal with heavy analytical workloads, but the researchers caution that mining huge datasets has a high computational cost and long run-time. However, they predict that this will become less of a barrier in the future. 

    Supercomputers may also power the mapping of the gut microbiome. Earlier this year, Nutrition Insight spoke to US-based researchers using these to create tools that investigate gut bacteria’s effects and the diet’s role. 

    The team also highlights other current limitations. For example, the system benefits from having more data about the gut bacteria than the metabolites they produce, but with insufficient bacteria data, accuracy drops. Moreover, the tool assumes microbes act independently, while in reality, gut bacteria interact in a complex system. 

    The authors point to several upcoming enhancements of the AI tool. 

    Dang details: “We plan to work with more comprehensive chemical datasets that capture the complete range of bacterial products, though this creates new challenges in determining whether chemicals come from bacteria, the human body, or external sources like diet.” 

    “We also aim to make VBayesMM more robust when analyzing diverse patient populations, incorporating bacterial ‘family tree’ relationships to make better predictions, and further reducing the computational time needed for analysis.” 

    He notes that, ultimately, the goal for clinical applications is to identify specific bacterial targets for treatments or dietary interventions that could help patients — moving from basic research toward practical medical applications.

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  • Photos help scientists predict ice shelf collapse and sea level rise

    Photos help scientists predict ice shelf collapse and sea level rise

    It started with a single ice shelf photo. On November 28, 1966, an American military plane flew over the Antarctic Peninsula, just south of Chile. A photographer onboard – likely from the U.S. Navy – snapped an image of the Wordie Ice Shelf.

    At the time, no one knew that the ice shelf he photographed would almost completely collapse just 30 years later.


    That image became the first in a long series of data points that are now helping researchers understand how and why ice shelves collapse – and what it could mean for our future.

    From archives to data that matters

    Scientists at the University of Copenhagen used that photo, along with hundreds more taken between 1966 and 1969, to reconstruct a detailed, time-lapsed view of the early stages of the Wordie Ice Shelf’s collapse.

    The study merges the historical aerial photos with modern satellite data to track the long-term changes in the ice shelf’s size, shape, and behavior.

    For the first time, this research documents the collapse of an ice shelf not as a sudden event, but as a long, evolving process. That shift in understanding matters.

    “We have identified several signs of incipient ice shelf collapse that we expect will be observed in other ice shelves,” explained postdoc Mads Dømgaard from the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, who is lead author of the study.

    “Perhaps more importantly, the dataset has given us a multitude of pinning points that can reveal how far advanced a collapse is. It’s a completely new tool that we can use to do reality checks on ice shelves that are at risk of collapsing or already in the process of collapsing.”

    Ripple effects of the ice shelf collapse

    The collapse of Wordie was relatively small in scale. It led to only millimeters of sea level rise. But it acted like a cork being popped. Without the support of the ice shelf, glaciers behind it were free to slide into the sea more easily.

    That’s a major problem with larger ice shelves. Ronne and Ross – the two largest in Antarctica – hold back glaciers with enough ice to raise global sea levels by up to five meters.

    While Antarctica may feel far away, its melting ice doesn’t just affect the Southern Hemisphere. Because of how gravity influences ocean distribution, ice loss in Antarctica leads to sea level rise in the Northern Hemisphere – including in places like Denmark.

    What really caused the collapse?

    To analyze the old images, researchers used a method called structure-from-motion photogrammetry. It stitches together overlapping photos to create detailed 3D models of the ice shelf’s surface, thickness, and movement over time.

    They discovered something unexpected. Previous assumptions pointed to warmer air and the formation of meltwater lakes as the main culprits behind Wordie’s collapse. But the evidence from the current study tells a different story.

    “Our findings show that the primary driver of Wordie’s collapse is rising sea temperatures, which have generated the melting beneath the floating ice shelf,” said Dømgaard.

    In other words, it’s not what’s happening on top of the ice that matters most – it’s what’s happening below.

    Surprising pace of ice shelf collapse

    The study also challenges the common assumption that ice shelf collapses happen quickly.

    “The tentative conclusion from our findings is that ice shelf collapse may be slower than we thought,” said Anders Anker Bjørk, assistant professor at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management.

    “This means that the risk of a very rapid development of violent sea level rise from melting in Antarctica is slightly lower, based on knowledge from studies like this one.”

    That sounds like good news, but it comes with a catch. According to Bjørk, the data shows a collapse process that is even more protracted than previously assumed.

    “And this longer process will make it harder to reverse the trend once it has started. This is an unambiguous signal to prioritise halting greenhouse gas emissions now, rather than sometime in the future,” noted Bjørk.

    The findings are a reminder that even slow-moving changes can carry enormous consequences. Understanding how ice shelves collapse gives us a chance to act – not later, but now – while we still have the choice to shape what happens next.

    —–

    Featured image credit: The Wordie Ice Shelf has undergone a total collapse since first photographed November 1966. Credit: Mads Dømgaard

    The full study was published in the journal Nature Communications.

    —–

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  • William and Catherine welcome President Macron and his wife Brigitte as UK state visit begins – live updates

    William and Catherine welcome President Macron and his wife Brigitte as UK state visit begins – live updates

    ‘Mum would’ve loved this’: Hundreds line streets to catch glimpse of royals

    Daniel Wittenberg
    Reporting from Windsor

    Four women pose for camera in front of Windsor Castle

    Maryna, Candice, Linda and Michelle are eagerly waiting for the carriage procession led by King Charles and President Macron

    Several
    hundred people are already lining Windsor’s high street, where British and
    French flags are fluttering side by side in the sunshine.

    The
    crowd is waiting for the carriage procession led by King Charles and President
    Macron – though many are especially keen to catch a glimpse of the Princess of
    Wales, who is making a gradual return to public life after her cancer diagnosis
    last year.

    Maryna
    Kosydar, 45, has taken the day off work to be here. Originally from Ukraine,
    Maryna now lives in Windsor and says she is determined not to miss the
    occasion.

    “It’s
    very British. This country does these events so well,” she tells me.

    Maryna
    is standing by the barriers outside Windsor Castle with a group of women from
    different parts of the world who all met for the first time this morning.

    Among them is Michelle
    David, from Bridgend in South Wales, who says she’s here partly in tribute to her
    mother, who died two months ago.

    “She
    would have loved this,” she says. “We often came here to Windsor together, so
    it feels right to be here today.”

    Over from across the Atlantic are sisters-in-law Linda
    and Candice from Boston, Massachusetts, who stumbled upon the preparations while exploring Windsor at the weekend, and came back to see it.

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