With a career spanning 45 years, he's considered part of Hollywood royalty - but Tom Cruise has also spent plenty of time mingling with actual royals over the years.

The Mission Impossible star has enjoyed a private afternoon tea with the late Queen Elizabeth II, bonded over aviation with Prince William and often showed his chivalrous manners towards the Princess of Wales.

Indeed, at the world premiere of his new film, Digger, on Tuesday, the 64-year-old actor was the perfect gentleman as he guided Kate down the steps of Leicester Square's Odeon Luxe while the Prince of Wales walked beside her.

While it's hard to outshine certified A-listers, all eyes were on the future king and queen as they arrived for the Royal Film Performance in London's West End, with Kate radiating elegance in a flowing purple gown by Jenny Packham.

Cruise's appearance at a royal occasion may not have come as a surprise to many, considering the actor has attended a number of events with members of The Firm over the years.

He had starring roles in the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as well as the Coronation Concert - and has even said King Charles can be his 'wingman'.

However, it has been reported that Diana might not have been quite so enamored with the actor as he was with the Royal Family, with her former chef once claiming that the Princess said Cruise was 'off the list' in terms of dating options because he was 'too short'.

In September 2022, the actor famously offered his hand to Kate as she walked up the stairs at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere.

But while the breach of protocol raised the eyebrows of royal traditionalists, it likely carried the approval of Prince William - a man Cruise claims he shares a lot in common with, including a love of aviation. 

In February 2024, following several weeks out of the spotlight, the future king returned to royal duties at a gala for the London Air Ambulance Charity - joined by none other than Cruise himself. 

The pair, both looking sharp in tuxedos inside the Old War Office, beamed as they stood side-by-side in a snap posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales's X account, with the caption: 'Fancy seeing you here!' 

Appearing at the event itself that evening, the famed Scientologist twinned with Prince William in black tie - and the royal even made a nod to Cruise, who has donated millions to the charity, in his speech. 

'Here in London, the current aircraft have served magnificently. But our capital city needs a new fleet.

'And we are Up Against Time. The clue really is in the Appeal's name. By September, we need the two new red birds - decked with the latest kit such as night vision - in our skies.

'I should also take this opportunity to give a mention to my - our - fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, huge thanks for supporting us tonight.

'And if you wouldn't mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission:Impossible, it would be appreciated.

'We have all seen on our screens that - how can I put it - you seem to have a different take on 'normal wear and tear' to the rest of us. It's not the kind that buffs out, that's for sure.'

Cruise has continued to bond with members of the royal family with a love of flying over the years - not least, Her late Majesty the Queen.

In the late monarch's final weeks at Windsor Castle before travelling to Balmoral where she died, she invited Cruise for tea at the royal residence.

She was said to have been disappointed that she had not met the star during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which had taken place earlier that summer.

Despite not seeing the Queen during the week of celebrations, Cruise appeared in a segment at the Jubilee, and said of her: 'She's a woman I greatly admire. She has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic.'

Insiders said the pair 'really hit it off' during their meeting and the late Queen 'loved seeing him' - and she even allowed him to land his helicopter on the lawn of the Castle.

Cruise was even invited back for lunch - but the Queen sadly passed away before he could return. 

The Hollywood star, who had been filming his Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning film in the UK, said: '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.'

A source told The Times: 'The Queen let it be known 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.

'She loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch.'

Despite missing out on the Platinum Jubilee celebrations that June, Cruise flew to London later in the month for his Top Gun: Maverick premiere - and invited two very special royal guests along. 

The star was accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales on the red carpet - and during the appearance, the Hollywood star noted he has 'a lot in common' with the royal.

Speaking about the royal couple, he praised 'what they do for their country'.

He continued: 'We have a lot in common. We love England, we're both aviators, so it's just going to be a really wonderful evening.'

At the time, a PR expert speculated that Cruise's decision to invite the royals to his premiere, which was also a charity event, might have been part of a little-known industry trick known as 'brand halo' in which people in the public eye associate themselves with something positive in the hope the glossy sheen rubs off on their own image.

'We see people hang around celebrities, want to be photographed at high profile events, and to be seemingly 'endorsed' by well-liked entities online,' Lida Citroen said.

'It's possible this is the strategy behind Cruise's promotion of his new movie with an institution as popular and well-recognised as the Royal Family.'

Although naysayers may dismiss Cruise's association with the royals as a PR stunt, his connection to the family goes back a long way - and he was even friends with Princess Diana.

In 1992, when he was married to Nicole Kidman, Cruise invited Diana to another London premiere of Far and Away.

The late royal had met with Cruise again on the set of Mission: Impossible, and brought Prince Harry and Prince William along. 

Despite the occasional reported 'snub', Cruise's love of the royals has endured - and he even made a cameo at the King's Coronation Concert.

The Hollywood star appeared in a VT played during the concert from his fighter jet - where he delivered a special message for King Charles.

He said: 'Pilot to pilot, Your Majesty. 'You can be my wingman.'