The Prince William and Kate Middleton joined forces with Tom Cruise during the world premiere in London of his new film: Digger. During their encounter at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, the Hollywood star offered Kate his hand as they descended the stairs, making sure she did not trip on her Jenny Packham purple dress. Moments earlier, the 64-year-old actor had greeted the future queen of England with a kiss on both cheeks.
The event was part of the 73rd edition of the Royal Film Performance, a historic cinematic tradition of the British crown. Its first edition was at the same spot in London in 1946. Back then the film was Life or Death, and King George VI attended the premiere, accompanied by Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The last Royal Film Performance was the premiere of Gladiator II in November 2024, attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Before the arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Tom Cruise had praised them to the press: “I love them. They are charming people and I have great respect for them.” The last time the actor walked the red carpet with Prince William and Kate Middleton was in 2022, for the premiere of his film Top Gun: Maverick. On that occasion, we also saw him offering his arm to the princess to ensure she did not stumble.
Tom Cruise has been supporting the charitable initiatives of the British royal family for years, including fundraising for the London Air Ambulance alongside Prince William. In 2023, the actor recorded a cameo for the coronation concert held on the Windsor Castle grounds. Seated in the cockpit, Cruise told the newly crowned Charles III: “From pilot to pilot, you can be my co-pilot whenever you want.”
Kate Middleton’s Jewelry
While Tom Cruise wore an elegant Giorgio Armani suit tailored to perfection, surprisingly paired with cowboy boots, the Princess of Wales chose a majestic purple for the occasion. And she paired it with a historic piece: the Queen Mother’s long amethyst necklace. This family jewel was a wedding gift that Queen Alexandra gave to Queen Elizabeth in 1923. The necklace is composed of small seed pearls interleaved with amethysts and a large pendant in the shape of a purple heart.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, last night in London.
William Avoids Awkward Questions
Hours before the premiere of Digger, Prince William attended a screening at a community-run cinema in his capacity as president of the BAFTAs. Upon arrival, he ignored questions from reporters waiting for him about the publication of a sensational book about his mother, written by her late brother, The Earl Spencer.
Prince William did not want to answer questions about his uncle’s book.
“What do you think of your uncle’s book?”, shouted by a journalist to the prince. But William kept walking, ignoring the question. Swan Song: Diana, My Sister was released on Tuesday in the United Kingdom. The book has been enveloped in controversy due to the accusations levelled against King Charles by his former brother-in-law in the days following Diana’s death in 1997.
In an unusual contradiction of his motto “Never complain, never explain”, Buckingham Palace issued a statement criticizing the book last week. “The fraternal pain,” the palace stated, could “cloud judgment, affect the reasoning and bias memories… many years after such a loss.” Both William and his brother Harry have kept silent about the book’s publication. The Duke of Sussex also dodged questions when seen on Monday in London, at the WellChild awards ceremony.
