The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed their children were “jealous” of them attending the Top Gun premiere and let slip the reason why they weren't with them.
Prince William and Kate stepped out alone as they stole the show when they swooped down on the red carpet for the UK premiere of the blockbuster and they rubbed shoulders with a star-studded cast led by Tom Cruise.
The couple dressed to impress as they arrived at the event in London’s Leicester Square to cheers from onlookers and the flashes of cameras on Thursday evening.
But two children who spoke to William and Kate revealed the couple’s own brood, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were gutted to miss the glitzy screening.
Alfie Everett-Fletcher, nine, who met William at the cinema, said: “He asked me what I liked about the last one, the things I like, if I like jets and planes and motorbikes.”
Alfie said William told him he is a “big fan” of the film and “cars and stuff”.
His mother Elise Everett added: “He said they have had the theme tune for the film playing with their kids.”
Alfie also said William told him his own children were “jealous” to miss the premiere.
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Poppy Saunders, 11, said it was “really good” to meet Kate and give her a bunch of flowers outside the auditorium, although she was “really nervous”.
She said: “I gave the flowers and shook hands and she said ‘hello Poppy’. She said a lot about how the kids love the film as well.”
While her mother Lindsay Saunders added the reason George, Charlotte and Louis missed out.
On the young royals, Ms Saunders said Kate told them “they wished they were here tonight”.
She added: ”And I said ‘well, it is a school night’.”
They joined Hollywood royalty Tom Cruise, who reprised his role as hotshot US fighter pilot Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell for the eagerly awaited sequel to the 1986 movie.
William sported a dapper Alexander McQueen tuxedo and Kate wore a black and white Roland Mouret dress as they dazzled at the Royal Film Performance screening.
Initially called the Royal Command Film Performance, the first Royal Film Performance took place at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square in 1946 and was attended by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
Maverick, which has so far received rave reviews from critics, sees Hollywood star Cruise reprise the role of US naval aviator Pete Mitchell and is being released 36 years after the 1986 original.
Other stars include Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm and Glen Powell.
