![\"jk](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0834780a-d60d-4c5d-9856-6bd0bfb2189a.jpg\" "\\"JK")
<\/p>\nSeveral stars have hit out at the monarchy for giving JK Rowling an audience with the Queen. The Harry Potter writer posed for a picture with Queen Camilla last week, as she was signed up to mark the beginning of Royal Week in Edinburgh and help promote reading amongst children.<\/p>\n
But a string of celebrities \u2013 including The Traitors winner Stephen Libby, actor Charlie Condou, and Oscar-nominated director Lee Knight \u2013 have expressed frustration and disappointment with the monarchy for giving Rowling a platform due to her “reprehensible” treatment of the trans community.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jane Barlow \/ POOL \/ AFP\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Libby said: “I think it is such a shame that trans people, [who] make up a minute faction of the population, are being weaponised in a way that they would never ask for themselves. It’s so devastating. It seems to me that it is minorities [who] are pounced upon the most.<\/p>\n
“There are much bigger issues at play in our country; I really wished we focused on them than one percent of our population [who] are just trying to live their lives peacefully.”<\/p>\n
The TV star continued: “JK Rowling has said things in the past that I deem reprehensible. Do I think she should be on a big platform like this? No. I think by giving people these platforms when they have been so rude to a minority makes it seem as though what they’ve done is fine. I don’t think you should be giving these people a platform.”<\/p>\n
Libby added: “I don’t really know what the royal family stand for. It is sad that you see someone like JK Rowling being uplifted in society when all they’ve done is push minorities down. <\/p>\n
“I don’t think trans women are the biggest threat to women. I think men are the biggest threat to women, and yet, they seem to get off scot-free every time. Why are we wasting so much energy and breath on trans women when men are the biggest threat to women? I don’t understand.”<\/p>\n
![\"stephen](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6c196134-dcfb-4bb7-b6c0-2d0dfa6bc571.jpg\" "\\"Stephen")
<\/p>\n
Simon Ackerman\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
Related: The Traitors winner Rachel pays special tribute to Stephen after breaking silence<\/a> <\/p>\n Libby went on to speak about the late Princess Diana and her work as an activist, saying it brought a tear to his eye to see a video of her shaking hands with a HIV patient.<\/p>\n He added: “I do worry and think that we are going back to a place where people are scared to speak out for our community or speak out when they see wrongdoing. I don’t think [Diana] would have done that.” <\/p>\n Charlie Condou \u2013 who has starred on Coronation Street<\/a>, Doctor Who, and more recently Channel 4’s Tip Toe<\/a> \u2013 said: “When you consider that JK Rowling has more followers on X than there are trans people in the world, you can’t really see her attacks as anything other than a massive kick down.<\/p>\n “I feel like JK Rowling has almost got to a point where she can’t stop attacking them, and it feels so unnecessary.”<\/p>\n Simon Ackerman\/WireImage\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Related: Best streaming services<\/a><\/p>\n Asked about how Diana would have acted, Condou stated: “It’s hard to know what Diana would have done, but… she was an extremely forward-thinking and tolerant woman, and she did so much for our community. I would like to think that she would approach the trans community with those same morals and values.”<\/p>\n “I can’t speak on why they do what they do; I’ve never met the Queen. but those are my views on JK Rowling,” the actor added. “Whatever the Queen thinks, that’s up to her.” <\/p>\n Director and actor Lee Knight, who received an Oscar nomination for his short film A Friend of Dorothy, echoed Libby’s comments about Diana, saying that she “wouldn’t have done something like that” by posing with Rowling.<\/p>\n When asked if he thought Princes William and Harry would follow the example set by their mother, Knight said: “I definitely think Harry [would]”, noting that he “doesn’t know much about William”. <\/p>\n “From what I think, Harry and Meghan represent being so in touch with the people and modern society,” he explained. “They definitely wouldn’t have posed for a picture.” <\/p>\n Knight concluded by saying: “Society should be doing everything we can to keep people safe, and I don’t think [the royals] are doing enough. I think people are rightly angry. A photo says enough, I think.”<\/p>\n![\"charlie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/206608bc-2f1f-43b7-a7d1-c5f9a40ba1a8.jpg\" "\\"Charlie")
<\/p>\n