# Royal attendance at ‘Digger’ film premiere

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20260922-royal-attendance-at-digger-film-premiere
> Updated: 2026-09-24T10:00:00.000Z. Sources: 173. Developments: 3.

Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended the world premiere of the film ‘Digger’ at London’s Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on September 22. The event served as the 73rd Royal Film Performance, a charity gala supporting the Film and TV Charity.

Princess Catherine drew significant attention for her attire, wearing a deep purple Jenny Packham silk chiffon gown and accessorizing with Collingwood Pearl Drop earrings previously owned by Diana, Princess of Wales, alongside the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace. 

A notable moment occurred when actor Tom Cruise offered his hand to assist the Princess as she descended a set of stairs. This gesture prompted discussion regarding royal protocol, as traditional etiquette generally advises against physical contact with members of the monarchy unless initiated by them. While some commentators scrutinized the interaction and Prince William’s reaction, others characterized the move as a “gentlemanly gesture.”

Following the event, Cruise appeared on The Graham Norton Show, where he praised the royal couple, describing them as “amazing” and “very charismatic.”

Prince William attended in a black velvet tuxedo. The premiere for the satirical black comedy, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, featured a red carpet including actors Riz Ahmed, Sandra Hüller, Jesse Plemons, and John Goodman, as well as David Beckham. Cruise, who shares a long-standing friendship and a mutual interest in aviation with the royal couple, welcomed them to the event. The film follows Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil tycoon attempting to mitigate a global environmental catastrophe.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Prince William and Kate attend Tom Cruise film premiere in London

Prince William and Princess Kate attended the London premiere of Tom Cruise’s ‘Digger’, where Cruise’s gesture of helping the Princess down stairs drew attention to royal protocol.

20 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kate-middleton-and-prince-william-attend-digger-film-premiere

### 2026-09-22: Princess of Wales wears historic Queen Mother heirloom to London film premiere

The Princess of Wales wore a rare, 103-year-old amethyst necklace belonging to the Queen Mother at the London premiere of ‘Digger’ to support the Film and TV Charity.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/princess-of-wales-wears-historic-queen-mother-heirloom-to-london-film-premiere

### 2026-09-22: Tom Cruise hosts ‘Digger’ London premiere with Prince William and Princess Kate

Prince William and Princess Kate attended the London premiere of Tom Cruise’s new film ‘Digger,’ an event supporting The Film and TV Charity that featured a star-studded red carpet.

154 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/prince-and-princess-of-wales-attend-digger-premiere-in-london

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Cite as: Royal attendance at ‘Digger’ film premiere. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20260922-royal-attendance-at-digger-film-premiere