The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Tom Cruise for take off at the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick this evening.
I've been keeping an eye on the reaction to the film and followed the Cannes premiere, and one can safely say it's the most significant movie event since the pandemic, with the exception of the superhero genre. Critics have praised it as the best summer blockbuster in years and it is expect to boost cinema ticket sales globally in the coming weeks, seeing a more mature demographic returning to the big screens for the much anticipated sequel. It's been quite some time since Tom Cruise first graced screens as Maverick in 1986.
Top Gun has been very much a staple for decades and I have no doubt there's a copy in many of your homes. It turns out William and Kate are fans too -- not surprising at all given William's time as a pilot. It was reported at the beginning of April that Tom Cruise heard the Cambridges were big fans and invited them along with princesses Beatrice and Eugenie for the private evening.
Indeed, William teamed his McQueen tuxedo with a pair of Crockett & Jones embroidered with Top Gun F18 planes, per Roya Nikkhah. The ideal photo caption for this will be familiar with fans of the original film: "You can be my wingman anytime."
An arrival video.
Prince William and Kate stun on the red carpet at the #TopGunMaverick premiere. https://t.co/t1wpJq7Cqj pic.twitter.com/4fBG3f6eyO
— Good Morning America (@GMA) May 19, 2022
Another view.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in Leicester Square, London. It’s the 72nd Royal Film Performance. Kate is wearing an outfit by Roland Mouret. pic.twitter.com/ZRKPy9yUYJ
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) May 19, 2022
The movie star has a long history of meeting members of the Royal family. In fact, it's almost exactly 30 years since he met the late Princess Diana at the premiere of Far and Away at the same location tonight's event was held. Cruise and then wife Nicole Kidman would attend Diana's funeral five years later.
Speaking about the Royal family and his attendance last Sunday at 'A Gallop Through History' (now, we know this is the one...we didn't see the little ones in a carriage :)) which Mr Cruise attended along with Her Majesty making an appearance. Cruise said he greatly "admires" the monarch owing to her "dedication to her country". On William and Kate attending the premiere: "Tonight is also about charity, giving back and they're here celebrating the arts. Also, you know, we have a lot in common. We love England. The Duke and I were both aviators so we love flying."
It is very much a night also about charity: it's the first Royal Film performance since 2019.
The organization supports hundreds of thousands of people working behind the scenes in the UK’s film and television industry. This was especially apparent during the pandemic when the charity went above and beyond to help many of those who lost their livelihoods.
More from the Film & TV charity:
'The Royal Film Performance™ has been a mainstay of our fundraising since 1946, and today raises funds to help those working behind the scenes in film, TV, and cinema with a range of mental health, practical, and financial support.
Thanks to the generosity of individuals and organisations from across the industry, the charity was able to help more than 10,000 people during the pandemic – but our work is not done yet! As well as bringing new support services online (including, in the last 12 months our Bullying Advice Service), we are also working collaboratively to meaningfully change behaviours and to destigmatise the conversation around mental health to benefit everyone working behind the scenes.'
Kensington Palace added: "The premiere was hosted by Paramount Pictures and The Film and TV Charity and will be the 72nd Royal Film Performance™ delivered by the charity in its almost 100-year history."
Kate with stars Jennifer Connolly and Miles Teller. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is pictured in the background with Tom Cruise.
Mr Cruise leads the Duchess up the steps.
Mr Cruise takes the Duchess’s hand up the steps. pic.twitter.com/6fFqfa14E7
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) May 19, 2022
The film's plot? (Spoiler free). "After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”. Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it."
The trailer.
Another impressive element tonight? A Typhoon fighter jet was assembled in Leicester Square for the premiere.
A full video of the arrivals. There's complete footage of William and Kate meeting with the cast during the last 25 minutes of the stream.
The group make their way inside.
A look at William’s shoes as he chats to Tom Cruise. pic.twitter.com/er5ttsJ5Q1
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) May 19, 2022
Inside, the Duchess was presented with a beautiful posy.
Kate joked the children couldn't come as it's "a school night".
And here’s Kate explaining why George, Charlotte and Louis couldn’t come: “It is a school night!” She and William have been playing the Top Gun soundtrack at home with their children ahead of the premiere tonight #TopGunMaverick pic.twitter.com/ao1dNRVUmy
— Emily Nash (@emynash) May 19, 2022
The Cambridges met representatives from the Film and TV charity. They also spent time meeting with additional cast and crew, including director Joe Kosinski.
Kate looked fabulous in a classic gown by Roland Mouret.