The unexpected friendship between Prince William and Tom Cruise has become one of the most intriguing crossovers between the palace and Hollywood.
A royal seal of approval
While attending the BAFTA Film Awards in 2026, William was asked to name his favorite film.
He admitted he may have been ‘slightly biased’ before praising Top Gun: Maverick as one of the most impressive films he’s seen in years.
Back at Adelaide Cottage, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are said to be obsessed with the high-speed aerial scenes.
William admitted that family movie nights often lean toward daring stunts rather than arthouse dramas, much to the delight of his children.
Private Screenings and red carpet moments
The bond between the royal aviator and Hollywood’s most fearless stuntman dates back to 2022, when William and Catherine were invited to a private IMAX screening ahead of the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Cruise personally organized the premiere after discovering that William, a trained RAF helicopter pilot, was a long-time fan of the 1986 original.
Cameras captured them in conversation, with Cruise even offering a firm hand to the Princess of Wales on the stairs.
Cruise later publicly thanked the couple, calling it a privilege to welcome them to the United Kingdom.
At a 2024 fundraising gala, the future king jokingly warned his “fellow pilot” not to borrow the charity’s helicopters for the next tranche of Mission: Impossible – Dead reckoningteasing that Cruise’s idea of ”wear and tear” might differ from everyone else’s.
Cruise also lent power to William’s environmental initiative, the Earthshot Prize, appearing via a surprise video message and referring to the prince as his “dear friend.”
The actor said they “have a lot in common”, citing their shared love of aviation and England.
