Tom Cruise recalls Diana bringing young William to Mission: Impossible set

A decades-long connection between Hollywood star Tom Cruise and the British royal family was highlighted during a recent television interview. The actor described a specific moment from the production of the first Mission: Impossible film, recalling when Princess Diana visited the set accompanied by her son, Prince William.

Diana’s visit to the film set

During an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Cruise confirmed the details of the royal visit. He noted that while he is typically private about such interactions, the story had already been shared publicly by the prince himself. “Yes … I guess he spoke of it so it’s fine,” Cruise said. “It was beautiful … it was Mission Impossible, the first Mission Impossible.”

The Top Gun actor offered warm descriptions of both mother and son. “Man, was she lovely, and he was just absolutely lovely,” Cruise stated. He characterized the young prince as “very kind to everyone, and just a kid. Mannerly and fun … Fun, same person, same guy.”

Recent reunion in London

Cruise’s rapport with the royals continued recently at the world premiere of his film Digger in London on Sept. 22. He reunited with Prince William and Princess Kate for the event. According to Cruise, the couple was “laughing” and appeared “very gracious.”

He expressed appreciation for their attendance, noting they “loved the film.” Describing them as “such an elegant, charismatic couple,” Cruise added that it was “beautiful for them to be there.” He also reflected fondly on the time spent with the pair during the screening.

Praise for the royal couple

Cruise did not hold back in his compliments regarding Princess Kate. “As I said, William chose well, she’s beautiful, beautiful, beautiful,” he remarked. He further praised the couple’s public service, stating, “What they do for their country and the world is … lovely.” He emphasized their approachability, describing them as “so down to earth.”

This interaction follows a previous gesture by Cruise toward the prince. Before the 2022 U.K. premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, the actor arranged an advance screening specifically for William and Kate. This decision came after Cruise learned that William was a fan of the original Top Gun movie.

At that earlier premiere, Cruise drew parallels between himself and the prince. “We have a lot in common,” he said. “We both love England, and we’re both aviators; we both love flying.”

Historical ties to the monarchy

The bond between Cruise and the royal family extends back several decades. In 1992, Cruise and his then-wife Nicole Kidman met Princess Diana at the London premiere of the film Far and Away. These early encounters laid the groundwork for the ongoing relationship the actor maintains with members of the monarchy today.