Prince William and Kate Middleton given world first viewing of Top Gun sequel by Tom Cruise

Kate Middleton and Prince William, a trained helicopter pilot, have been given a special treat by Maverick himself ahead of the launch of the hotly anticipated Top Gun sequel.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been given a world first ­preview of the hotly anticipated Top Gun sequel by Maverick himself – Tom Cruise.

The Hollywood superstar greeted the royals for the private screening in London that he arranged after learning the Duke of Cambridge was a fan of the 1986 classic.

According to The Sun, Prince William, who is a trained helicopter pilot, and Kate, were joined at the secret screening of Top Gun: Maverick by Sophie Wessex, Princesses Eugenie, and Princess Beatrice.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are big fans of Top Gun. Picture: Getty Images

The screening took place at an IMAX cinema off London’s Leicester Square as Cruise reportedly wanted the royals to watch the film on one of Britain’s biggest screens.

“It’s a very unlikely movie premiere, but Tom made the offer after learning William is a fan,” a royal source reportedly told The Sun.

“They happily accepted. Let’s face it, guests don’t get much more A-list!

“The rest of the cinema was shut to ensure privacy and William, Kate and a few other members of the royal family — plus a couple of very trusted friends — were the first to see it.”

Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis and Tom Cruise in the original Top Gun. Picture: Supplied

Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick. Picture: supplied

“Tom welcomed them and said he hoped they’d enjoy watching it as much as he’d enjoyed making it, and left them to it.

“Apparently, it was met with royal approval — not least because William has been a military pilot himself so it’s pretty close to his heart.

“It’s also a megabucks film with some of the most incredible stunts ever performed on camera so it lives up to the hype.”

The original Top Gun was a global hit after its release in 1986. Cruise played hotshot rookie fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell at the US Navy’s elite fighter weapons school.

The film also starred Val Kilmer as Cruise’s arch enemy, Iceman, Anthony Edwards as Maverick’s doomed best friend, Goose, and Meg Ryan, in one of her early roles, as Goose’s wife, while Kelly McGillis played Charlie, an instructor at the school, and Maverick’s love interest.

In the sequel, which will officially premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month, he reprises the role. This time he is in charge of a training group of Top Gun graduates, which includes Miles Teller as Goose’s pilot son.

Tom Cruise officially announces that the film is in production at ComicCon in 2019. The pandemic delayed its release. Picture: AFP

The film’s release was significantly been delayed by Covid.

During filming, a hard drive storing one of the only copies was in Cruise’s BMW when it was stolen in the UK.

Police recovered the car, and the hard drive, after the car was abandoned by thieves.

– with The Sun

Originally published as Prince William and Kate Middleton given world first viewing of Top Gun sequel by Tom Cruise