Kate Middleton steals the spotlight as Tom Cruise escorts her into Digger premiere alongside the Beckhams
Princess Kate shared a warm red-carpet moment with Tom Cruise as the Hollywood star took her by the hand and guided her down the steps into the cinema for the world premiere of Digger in London.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were among the biggest names at the Royal Film Performance, held at the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square on September 22 in support of The Film and TV Charity. The charity confirmed the premiere was the 73rd Royal Film Performance in its history.
Cruise greeted William and Kate before the screening, having previously met the couple at the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
The actor had already spoken warmly about the royal couple, saying he “just love[s] them” and has “great respect” for them.
Kate dazzles in purple on the red carpet
Kate arrived alongside William wearing a full-length bright purple gown with long, flared sleeves.
Her look was completed with an elegant half-up, half-down hairstyle, glossy curls and pearl earrings that belonged to Princess Diana. The purple dress was also paired with the Queen Mother’s Amethyst Sautoir necklace, which was gifted by Queen Alexandra in 1923 and had previously been worn by Queen Camilla at the 2012 Royal World Premiere of Skyfall.
William opted for a classic black tuxedo with a bow tie as the couple greeted guests and members of the film’s creative team.
Among those they met were Cruise and director Alejandro González Iñárritu, with the group later seen chatting and laughing together.
Tom Cruise takes Kate’s hand
As the royal couple made their way from the red carpet into the cinema, Cruise took Kate’s hand and escorted her down the steps.
The moment quickly became one of the evening’s standout interactions as the group moved inside and greeted spectators.
William appeared to gesture towards his watch, seemingly indicating that they were running late for the screening, while Kate responded to younger members of the Beckham family with a thumbs-up.
The royal couple also met football legend David Beckham, who attended with his sons Cruz and Romeo.
William and Kate support the British film industry
The evening was not simply a star-studded premiere. The Royal Film Performance was held to raise funds for The Film and TV Charity, which supports people working behind the scenes across Britain’s film, television and cinema industries.
The organisation provides services including a 24/7 helpline, free counselling, financial grants and mental-health initiatives.
Earlier in the day, William had also taken part in activities highlighting grassroots filmmaking.
As President of BAFTA, he visited the ActOne community cinema in Acton, London, where he served popcorn, met young filmmakers and even attempted to operate the till while selling tickets.
Joking about the process, William said: “Sorry, I’ve made this very slow, I apologise!”
He spent around an hour at the cinema speaking with young creatives and representatives from The Film and TV Charity.
Some of the filmmakers he met had short films selected for the October Ealing Film Festival, and William asked about their ambitions and prospects within the industry.
When discussing the difficulties of breaking into the profession, he stressed the importance of believing in an artistic vision and continuing despite the obstacles.
A major night for Digger
The Leicester Square premiere brought together an impressive cast and creative team for Iñárritu’s latest film.
Digger stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell, a powerful oil tycoon who embarks on a desperate mission to prove he can save humanity after a disaster he has unleashed threatens to destroy everything.
The film also features Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Michael Stuhlbarg and Jesse Plemons. It was filmed and completed in the UK, making the London premiere particularly significant for its filmmakers.
Cruise underwent a dramatic transformation for the role, appearing much older than his usual screen image through extensive makeup, prosthetics and costume.
The film is scheduled to arrive in UK and Irish cinemas on October 2, 2026, with international releases beginning from September 30.
For William and Kate, meanwhile, the evening offered another high-profile opportunity to support the British film industry — while their interaction with Cruise and the gathering of stars including the Beckhams provided one of the night’s most memorable red-carpet moments.