Queen’s surprising friendship with Tom Cruise

In the months prior to her death, the Queen and Tom Cruise “really hit it off”, with the monarch and the movie star forging an unlikely bond.

The Queen and Tom Cruise “really hit it off” when she invited the Hollywood superstar for tea in her final weeks at Windsor Castle earlier this year – even letting him land his helicopter on her lawn, it has been reported.

The late monarch had reportedly been disappointed that she had not got to meet the Top Gun star during a Platinum Jubilee event last June when she had to scale back her public appearances.

Tom Cruise has said he “greatly admired” the Queen. Picture: Getty Images

But according to a report in The Times, the Queen “loved seeing him” when she invited him for tea at Windsor before departing for Balmoral where she spent her final British summer. She died at Balmoral on September 8.

The 60-year-old Cruise appeared as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, marking her 70th anniversary on the throne, but the Queen was plagued by mobility issues and unable to meet him.

Tom Cruise “hit it off” with the Queen. Picture: Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

The Queen had been disappointed she had not been able to meet Tom Cruise during Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Picture: AFP

“The Queen let it be known that she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the pageant, so he was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him. Afterwards, just the two of them had tea together,” a royal source told The Times.

The visit was a success, with Cruise given the chance to fire a ceremonial gun.

“She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter,” the source added.

No stranger to Hollywood. The Queen filmed a James Bond skit with Daniel Craig for the London Olympics. Picture: AFP

The burgeoning friendship was to continue with a future lunch date, but it wasn’t to be: the Queen died before they could reconvene.

“She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch,” the source said.

Before appearing as part of the Platinum Jubilee’s Gallop Through History equine pageant in May, Cruise spoke during a television interview of his admiration for the Queen.

“She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic. I just remember always as a kid seeing photos of her,” he said.