Tom Cruise thanks Prince William and Kate Middleton at London Digger premiere

Hollywood star Tom Cruise took to the stage to offer warm praise for Prince William and Kate Middleton at the world premiere of his latest motion picture, Digger, held at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square on Tuesday, 22 September 2026. The high-profile screening doubled as the seventy-third Royal Film Performance, raising vital funds for the Film and TV Charity.

The glittering evening brought together figures from culture, sports, and royalty. Prince William sported a black velvet tuxedo jacket, earning a sartorial compliment from Cruise, while the Princess of Wales dazzled onlookers in a flowing plum gown by Jenny Packham. She accessorised with the late Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace—previously worn by Queen Camilla at a high-profile movie launch—and a pair of Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, according to reports by ABC News.

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Festivities nearly encountered a snag on the black carpet when Marcus Ryder, chief executive of the Film and TV Charity, and organisation chairman Claire Tavernier greeted the royal arrivals. Footage captured by The Daily Mail revealed that Ms Tavernier accidentally stepped on the rear hem of Kate’s gown, causing the princess to briefly lose her balance. Kate laughed off the moment with an empathetic grin, reassuring the mortified charity boss before continuing down the carpet.

According to Yahoo, Cruise committed a minor break in traditional protocol by extending a hand to guide the princess down the steps, a gesture she graciously accepted. The actor later joined his castmates on stage to address the audience directly.

"We want to thank the royal highnesses for supporting this event, and just to tell them that we love them and we really appreciate what they do for the arts, for this country and for the world,"

Tom Cruise, Actor, via Soap Opera Daily

Directed by Oscar-winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Digger casts Cruise as an eccentric, wealthy oil tycoon named Digger Rockwell. In the satirical black comedy, the protagonist triggers an environmental disaster through aggressive drilling and embarks on an absurd mission to prove himself humanity's saviour. The feature was filmed at Pinewood Studios and features an ensemble cast including Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, Jesse Plemons, and Emma D'Arcy.

Social media reactions to the movie have remained divided following initial screenings. While IndieWire critic Anne Thompson characterized the project as a brave art film destined to appeal primarily to Academy voters, Awards Radar editor Joey Magidson offered a harsher critique, calling the production a mess on social media, as noted by the BBC.

Longstanding ties between Cruise and the British Royal Family trace back decades. The actor previously met William's mother, Princess Diana, at a 1992 film gala and later attended her funeral in 1997. In recent years, Cruise and Prince William have formed an enduring bond grounded in shared passions for aviation and flying. William previously thanked Cruise for supporting the London Air Ambulance charity, playfully referring to him as a fellow pilot during a gala dinner in early 2024.

Ahead of the premiere, William spent time visiting the ActOne Cinema in Acton on Tuesday, where he processed tickets and served popcorn to surprised filmgoers.

Audiences hoping to catch the film will not have to wait long. Warner Bros. Pictures has scheduled Digger for a wide theatrical release on Thursday, 2 October 2026.