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

WILLIAM and Kate were given a world first ­preview of the Top Gun sequel by Tom Cruise — its Hollywood superstar.

Tom greeted the royals for the private screening he arranged after learning Wills was a fan of the original.

The Prince, 39, a trained RAF helicopter pilot, and mum-of-three Kate, 40, were joined at the secret viewing of Top Gun: Maverick by Sophie Wessex, 57, and Princesses Eugenie, 32, and Beatrice, 33.

It was held at an IMAX cinema off London’s Leicester Square as Tom wanted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to see the hotly-anticipated release on one of the UK’s biggest screens.

A source said: “It’s a very unlikely movie premiere, but Tom made the offer after learning William is a fan. 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 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 mega-bucks film with some of the most incredible stunts ever performed on camera so it lives up to the hype.”

Tom, 59, made the first Top Gun in 1986. In it, he plays hotshot rookie fighter pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell at the US Navy’s elite fighter weapons school.

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.

Its release has been delayed by Covid.

During filming, a hard drive storing one of the only copies was in Tom’s BMW when it was pinched in Birmingham.

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

The film was originally due for release last year but will now come out in June.

Kensington Palace, meanwhile, declined to comment on the private viewing.