queen elizabeth ii tom cruise

Queen Elizabeth II’s surprising friendship with Hollywood star Tom Cruise revealed

By Hope Coke

The late Queen Elizabeth II and actor Tom Cruise

Hey may be showbiz royalty, but it no doubt would have been exciting for Tom Cruise to grow close to an actual royal, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in the weeks before her death.

According to Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor for the Sunday Times , the 60-year-old actor built up a friendship with the Queen during her final summer at Windsor Castle this year, before she departed her Berkshire residence for Balmoral.

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Cruise was among the starry names who were part of the monarch’s Jubilee festivities earlier this year, as part of A Gallop Through History : an equine-focused theatrical arena event that was staged at Windsor Castle in May, broadcast by ITV under the title The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration .

Tom Cruise arrives ahead of hosting the A Gallop Through History performance, part of the official celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee

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After the event, Cruise is said to have mixed with the Queen’s guests during a private drinks reception in the royal box, where he met fans and posed for photographs. The Queen herself, however, who was grappling with mobility issues in her final months, returned directly to the Castle for her comfort.

An unnamed source explained: ‘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… 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. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter.’ This was quite the honour given the Queen was said to dislike helicopters landing on her lawns, having reportedly been dismayed by the damage caused by then-president Donald Trump, who flew into Buckingham Palace by helicopter when he visited Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Queen Elizabeth II

Their time together reportedly included a photo op where the two posed for pictures together, and a moment when Cruise was allied to fire a ceremonial gun. The proposed lunch ultimately didn’t take place, however, as the monarch died on 8 September, before their reunion could take place.

Ahead of his appearance at the pageant in May, Cruise spoke highly of the Queen in an interview with presenters Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham, dubbing her ‘a woman that I greatly admire.’ He went on: ‘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… the world knows the dignity, devotion and kindness, that is what I have always felt about her.’

The actress reigned over the red carpet

He added that he was ‘very honoured’ to be part of A Gallop Through History , in which he introduced two segments throughout the performance, dubbing it a ‘real privilege’. He stated: ‘I love the history of England, and I just have great respect for the Queen. So when they asked, I instantly said, “Yeah, it would be my honour”.’

The Prince and Princess of Wales (then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) accompanied by actor Tom Cruise as they arrive for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere

Cruise previously met the monarch’s late husband, Prince Phlip, at a Buckingham Palace charity dinner in 2017. He recalled: ‘We were talking about pilots… and he was telling me the wonderful story of how he got the first helicopter into Buckingham Palace during [the Queen’s] coronation… I was this close to going, “I’d like to land a helicopter, if you ever need a helicopter, someone to pick you up, I think I could put it right there”.’

Cruise has been associated with other Royal Family members, too, meeting the late Diana, Princess of Wales in the ’90s – and later attending her funeral – and now enjoying a cordial relationship with today’s Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, who accompanied him to London’s Top Gun: Maverick premiere in May.

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Queen Elizabeth and Tom Cruise Became Secret Friends Before Her Death

Hollywood royalty, meet British royalty.

In the weeks before her death, Queen Elizabeth, 96, proved it’s never too late to make a new friend—except her new friend was none other than Tom Cruise, who Her late Majesty “really hit it off” with over the summer, according to Page Six .

The Top Gun actor was in the U.K. as a part of the Queen ’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but, because of ongoing mobility issues, Her late Majesty was unable to meet him at the festivities.

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

The Mission Impossible star was such a huge hit that he got 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,” the source says. “He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter.”

The twosome’s friendship was set to continue on with another lunch date, but the Queen died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle before they could reunite.

In a television interview earlier this year, Cruise said of 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.”

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Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of  Podcast Royal , a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts  I’d Rather Be Reading , which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more. 

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Queen Elizabeth and Tom Cruise became secret friends before her death

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Queen Elizabeth was tickled pink to make a new pal in the weeks before her death: “Top Gun” actor Tom Cruise, according to a report.

The monarch and the “Mission Impossible” star “really hit it off” over the summer, a source told the Sunday Times of London.

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

“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,” the source said.

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.

The budding friendship was to continue with a lunch date, but it wasn’t to be: Elizabeth died on Sept. 8 at age 96 , before they could reunite.

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,” he said at the time.

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Queen Elizabeth ‘really hit it off’ with Tom Cruise before she passed away

They got on so well they set up a lunch date

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The Royal Family counts many celebrities amongst their close friends, from Ellie Goulding to the Beckham family . A new report from the Sunday Times has revealed Queen Elizabeth struck up a very surprising friendship before her passing, namely with Mission Impossible actor Tom Cruise.

According to the report, Tom was meant to meet the Queen over the course of the Platinum Jubilee - however she was too unwell to see him. 

A source told the Sunday Times : "The Queen let it be known that she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the pageant, so he was invited to a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him."

While Tom did join in the fun of the Platinum Jubilee - saying a few lines during the larger celebrations at Buckingham Palace - he also visited the Queen at Windsor. He was given the action star treatment as he reportedly helicoptered into the grounds and was allowed to fire a ceremonial gun, one of the rarer weapons he’s fired off in his career.

The pair got on so well that they reportedly set up another lunch date, but Queen Elizabeth sadly passed away before it came to happen.

The source continued: "[The Queen] loved seeing him and they really hit it off, so much so that she invited him back for lunch."

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Queen Elizabeth passed away in September earlier this year after her Jubilee celebrations in Balmoral Castle, which led to a nationwide period of mourning. She was 96 years old.

Tom has spent quite a bit of time in the UK over the past years, especially last year as parts of his most recent Mission: Impossible film were set in England. 

He caused a stir last August amongst the local community, when he had to make a surprise helicopter landing in a family’s garden in Baginton as a nearby airport had been closed temporarily.

Megan is a freelance journalist who covers entertainment and all things lifestyle, with a particular passion for fashion, beauty, travel and Keanu Reeves stories. She has previously worked on staff for titles including Marie Claire UK, CNN Style and The Evening Standard and has written for titles such as Bustle UK, Wallpaper*, Forbes and Hong Kong Tatler. She splits her time between London and her hometown Hong Kong, where she currently lives with the love of her life - an elderly dog named Poppy - and her husband. 

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Queen Elizabeth and Tom Cruise became pals shortly before her death, source claims: 'They really hit it off'

The 'top gun: maverick' star was part of the british monarch's platinum jubilee celebrations, which marked her 70 years on the throne..

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Queen Elizabeth became friends with Tom Cruise shortly before her death.

The claim was made by a source who alleged that the monarch and the "Top Gun: Maverick" star "really hit it off" over the summer. The palace insider claimed that the late queen was "delighted" to forge a friendship with the American movie star.

According to The Sunday Times of London, the 60-year-old was part of the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, which marked her 70 years on the throne. However, the ailing royal was suffering from mobility issues and unable to see him.

"The queen let it be known that she was really disappointed not to have met Tom at the [equine] pageant, so he was invited to have a special tour of Windsor Castle with everything laid on for him," the insider alleged. "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. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter."

KING CHARLES AND PRINCE WILLIAM ‘HAVE STRENGTHENED THEIR BOND’ FOLLOWING QUEEN ELIZABETH’S DEATH: SOURCE

Tom Cruise was in the U.K. during the Platinum Jubilee to host the equine pageant ‘A Gallop Through History.' A source alleged the American movie star met the British monarch privately after the event and the two became fast friends. (Getty Images)

The outlet claimed that not only did the queen arrange for photographs to be taken of her with Cruise during their private meeting, but he was also permitted to take a shot at firing a ceremonial gun. The queen allegedly gave her new pal "full VIP treatment."

It is believed the pair were expected to schedule a lunch date. However, the meeting never occurred. The queen passed away on Sept. 8 at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle. She was 96.

A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace, as well as Cruise, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

During the Platinum Jubilee, Cruise spoke of his admiration for the queen to presenters Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham.

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Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, left, and Tom Cruise meet during a dinner to mark the 75th anniversary of the Outward Bound Trust at Buckingham Palace on March 8, 2017, in London. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

"She’s just a woman that I greatly admire," he said at the time. "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."

When asked about America's reverence for the monarch, Cruise replied, "Not just Americans, but the world knows the dignity, devotion and kindness, that is what I have always felt about her."

Cruise noted that he was "very honored" to be asked to appear at the equine pageant, where he introduced a performance by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. He also described having a "lovely" meeting with the queen's husband, Prince Philip, at a Buckingham Palace charity dinner in 2017. Cruise said the pair bonded over their love of flying.

"There was a moment... we were talking about pilots, we had to talk about helicopters, and he was telling me the wonderful story of how he got the first helicopter into Buckingham Palace during [the queen’s] coronation," said Cruise. "Fantastic story. I was this close to going, ‘I’d like to land a helicopter, if you ever need a helicopter, someone to pick you up, I think I could put it right there.’"

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON MAKE FIRST APPEARANCE TOGETHER IN WEEKS

Britain's Prince William, right, is accompanied by Tom Cruise, left, as he arrives for the U.K. premiere of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ in London on May 19, 2022.  (Photo by DAN KITWOOD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Duke of Edinburgh passed away in 2021 at age 99.

Before the queen’s death, her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton joined Cruise for the London premiere of "Top Gun: Maverick" in May.

William, who is said to be a big fan of the 1986 original, was reportedly treated to a private screening of the sequel at the invitation of Cruise before the event. A spokesperson for the Prince of Wales, 40, and Cruise did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment at the time.

According to the outlet, Cruise has spent much of his time in the U.K. in recent months. He has been filming scenes for his upcoming film "Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two." He has been spotted flying himself to various locations around the country.

Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.

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How Tom Cruise became a 'secret friend' of Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth and ‘Top Gun’ actor Tom Cruise ‘really hit it off’ when she invited him for tea at Windsor Castle in her final weeks. The British monarch had let the Hollywood superstar land his helicopter on her lawn and even invited him back for lunch — but she died before that could happen

In the weeks before Queen Elizabeth’s death , the late monarch had found a new pal in Hollywood star Tom Cruise, suggests a new report.

According to Page Six , she and the Top Gun actor “really hit it off” over the summer, a source told a British media outlet.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations that marked her 70th anniversary on the throne had been attended by Cruise; however, the ailing royal was unable to meet the Mission Impossible star as she suffering from mobility issues.

“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,” the source said, reported Page Six .

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.

This newly-formed friendship could have continued with a lunch date, but it could not as Elizabeth died on 8 September at the age of 96, before they could reunite.

Cruise had spoken of his admiration for the Queen during a television interview that happened before the Platinum Jubilee’s Gallop Through History equine pageant in May.

“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,” he said at the time, as per Page Six.

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You can be my wingma’am: Tom Cruise’s high time with the Queen

In her final weeks at Windsor Castle, before heading to Balmoral, Queen Elizabeth was surrounded by her closest family and friends, enjoying cherished moments and memories with loved ones — but she also forged one new friendship.

The late Queen and Hollywood actor Tom Cruise met and “really hit it off” over the summer, a relationship which is said to have delighted her.

At the Queen’s request, the pair had tea for two at Windsor Castle, and got on so well that the Top Gun actor was invited back to lunch at a later date. She also gave him full VIP treatment, granting Cruise, 60, his long-held wish of landing a helicopter at a royal residence.

The meeting took place because the Queen had been

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Queen Elizabeth Gets Animated at Her First Platinum Jubilee Event: See Her Many Facial Expressions!

Queen Elizabeth couldn't hide her excitement as she stepped out for the star-studded televised event in her honor

Queen Elizabeth is in high spirits!

The British monarch, 96, attended her first Platinum Jubilee event on Sunday evening as she made an appearance at the Windsor Horse Show's televised event, "A Gallop Through History," which paid tribute to her 70 years on the throne.

And the Queen put on a rare animated display as she took in the special, which featured acting and musical performances, as well as horse displays, and welcomed presenters among the likes of Tom Cruise and Helen Mirren .

The Queen was driven a short distance from Windsor Castle to the showground for the event. After arriving in a black Range Rover, the monarch stepped on the red carpet to huge applause from thousands of spectators.

She was accompanied by her son, Prince Edward , and used her walking stick to make her way around the event. The Queen wore a gray cardigan and a blue dress, which she accessorized with black shoes and a handbag.

For more on Queen Elizabeth, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

During the event, the Queen watched from the Royal Box. There, she marveled at the show, including the musical ride by the Household Cavalry — the Queen's official bodyguards at ceremonial functions.

The Queen enthusiastically and pointed out the horses and their riders while soul and blues singer Gregory Porter sang his track, "Revival."

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The Queen clearly loved the Top Secret Drum Corps from Switzerland, who were joined in a drum-off with the drummers of the Royal Marines. She smiled broadly and clapped enthusiastically at the end of the joint performance.

Sitting nearby in the Royal Box were her son, Edward, and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex , as well as family friend Penny Romsey. The Queen was at the event for almost two hours.

Cruise, 59, introduced a section that celebrated the four nations of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Before presenting, he opened up to ITV about The Queen's impact over her record-breaking reign.

"[To] people of all walks of life — not just America but the world — [she's admired for] dignity, devotion and kindness that I have always felt about her," he said. "And [she is] someone who understands her position and held it through a history of 70 years."

An emotional high point came when Lady Louise Windsor — the Queen's granddaughter — rode in on the late Prince Philip 's exercise carriage. Lady Louise has inherited Philip's passion for the sport. As the camera panned to the Queen, her eyes glistened with pride.

Moments earlier, it had been a different emotion that she showed — a nonchalant shrug when presenter Alan Titchmarsh praised her with: "constant heart beating in the nation, that heart belongs to Her Majesty the Queen."

The finale comprised of a parade of some of her own horses — two working ponies from the Balmoral estate in Scotland and two fell ponies with which she was recently photographed. And capping it all was her 26-year-old fell pony called Carlton Lima Emma, led by her groom of 28 years, Terry Pendry.

There was even time for a joke for one of the hosts Omid Djalili, who said thanks "for choosing us over the State Opening of Parliament" ( which she missed last Tuesday ). The Queen gave him a simple wave in return.

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The show ended with Dame Helen Mirren, dressed as Elizabeth I, saying, "For all these years you have carried our nation and have been its heart and drumbeat. Our sincere and most loving thanks."

Queen Elizabeth will continue to celebrate the milestone with dozens of events before ending with a series of festivities on the weekend of June 2 to June 5.

Further events will include Trooping the Colour (the annual public festivities for the Queen's birthday), the lighting of Platinum Jubilee beacons, a service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral, the Derby at Epsom Downs, a live concert called 'Platinum Party at the Palace,' the Big Jubilee Lunch, and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.

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Tom Cruise, Helen Mirren to Lead Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on ITV

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Tom Cruise , Helen Mirren , Damian Lewis and Omid Djalili will lead an A-list cast of talent celebrating Queen Elizabeth II ‘s platinum jubilee on U.K. broadcaster ITV .

The event will be broadcast live on ITV from the private grounds of Windsor Castle on May 15 and will be the first televised event to mark the occasion.

Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham will host the live ITV broadcast “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration,” which will feature guests including Adjoa Andoh, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ant & Dec, Joan Collins, Mo Farah, Maureen Lipman, David Jason, Alan Titchmarsh, Kelly Holmes, Moira Stuart and Trevor McDonald, with special performances from Keala Settle, Gregory Porter, Katherine Jenkins as they pay tribute to the Queen’s 70 years of service.

A theatrical arena event will include 1300 performers and 500 horses and is made up of four acts, each overseen by a different event host – confirmed to be Tom Cruise, Damian Lewis, Adjoa Andoh and Alan Titchmarsh respectively. The celebration will take viewers on a ride through history, from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I through to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, culminating in a grand finale.

Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar playing Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” (2006), will take on the role of Queen Elizabeth I, whilst a cast of Queen’s Players will be introduced by a character called The Herald played by Djalili.

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The Commonwealth will also be celebrated as well as the four nations within the United Kingdom. All of this will be interspersed with a number of military and equestrian displays from around the world including Azerbaijan, India, Oman, France, Norway, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago.

Katie Rawcliffe, head of ITV entertainment commissioning said: “We’re thrilled to be broadcasting the first televised event for the Queen’s platinum jubilee here on ITV. To mark this momentous occasion, we’ll be bringing the nation a celebratory, star-studded show, complete with show-stopping performances and an epic journey through history, told by some of the most well-renowned and respected names in film and television.”

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Queen Elizabeth & Tom Cruise Became Secret Friends Weeks Before Her Death

By Rebekah Gonzalez

November 6, 2022

Queen Elizabeth II struck up an unlikely friendship with Top Gun actor Tom Cruise shortly before her death. According to Page Six , a source told London's Sunday Times that the late monarch "really hit it off" with Cruise over the summer.

Cruise participated in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June , but her declining health meant the Queen couldn't make it to every event. That didn't stop her from meeting the Mission Impossible star though .

"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,” the source revealed.

The visit went well and Cruise was reportedly given the opportunity 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 said.

The two had plans for a lunch date but the Queen passed away in Balmoral on September 8th before it could happen. During the Platinum Jubilee’s Gallop Through History equine pageant, Crusie talked about his admiration for the late Queen.

"She’s just a woman that I greatly admire. I think she is someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion," he said. "What she has accomplished has been historic."

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Tom cruise, helen mirren, damian lewis to lead queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations on itv.

Mirren will reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth I for the festivities.

By Alex Ritman

Alex Ritman

U.K. Correspondent

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U.K. network ITV has lined up a host of big names to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee next month.

Among those leading the festivities for the monarch’s 70 years on the throne will be Tom Cruise , Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis , who will take part in a grand theatrical event, including 1,300 performers and 500 horses taking viewers through various moments in history, from the reign of Queen Elizabeth I through to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Mirren is set to play Queen Elizabeth I (a role she has performed before in a 2005 TV series), while a cast of “Queen’s Players” will be introduced by a character called The Herald, played by actor and comic Omid Djalili.

Each act will reflect on key moments in history, including Elizabeth I’s Tilbury Speech and James I and the Gunpowder Plot. The Commonwealth will also be celebrated, as well as the four nations within the United Kingdom. All of this will be interspersed with a number of military and equestrian displays from around the world, including Azerbaijan, India, Oman, France, Norway, Switzerland and Trinidad & Tobago.

Music will be provided by a 75-piece orchestra comprising Tri-Service personnel and augmented with members of The National Symphony Orchestra, with special performances from Keala Settle, Gregory Porter and Katherine Jenkins. The musical director will be the multi-award winning composer, Debbie Wiseman, whilst the principal director for music will be Lieutenant Colonel Jason Burcham RM.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee will be broadcast live from the private grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday, May 15.

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Queen Elizabeth II Apparently Struck Up a Friendship with *This* Actor Before She Passed

Over the years, we've seen quite a few celebrities strike up unlikely friendships with members of the British royal family. For instance, there's David and Victoria Beckham, who are practically BFFs with Prince William and Prince Harry . And then of course, there's Serena Williams and Meghan Markle , who became fast friends after meeting at DirecTV Beach Bowl in 2014. But now, we've learned that Her Majesty became friends with yet another well-known star before her passing  

The celebrity in question? Top Gun actor Tom Cruise .

Per  Page Six , a close source told the Sunday Times of London that Queen Elizabeth and Cruise “really hit it off” when they met, which explains his attendance at the queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The source said, “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.”

“She loved seeing him and they really hit it off," the insider continued. "So much so that she invited him back for lunch. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter.” Yep, sounds like these two were fast BFFs.

While speaking about the queen in a TV interview , he 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.”

For the record, Cruise's meetup with the queen wasn't his first encounter with the royal family. His history with the family dates all the way back to 1992, when he and his former wife, Nicole Kidman, met Princess Diana at the London premiere of Far and Away .

Since then, he has crossed paths with Prince Philip, whom he bonded with at the 75th anniversary of the Outward Bound Trust at Buckingham Palace, and Prince William and Kate Middleton, whom he hosted at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere .

Something tells us we'll be seeing more of Cruise with the royal family.

Stay up-to-date on every breaking royal family story by subscribing  here .

OVER 50,000 LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE WERE SENT TO THE ROYAL FAMILY FOLLOWING QUEEN ELIZABETH’S PASSING

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Tom Cruise Appearing at the Queen's Jubilee Celebration Causes Confusion

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise caused confusion among Brits on Sunday with a special appearance at a Platinum Jubilee celebration for Queen Elizabeth II , where he praised the monarch's "dignity" and "devotion" to her country.

The Risky Business and Top Gun star surprised tourists in Windsor town by walking to the Royal Windsor Horse Show event ground where he was a guest host at the Platinum Jubilee Celebration—A Gallop Through History which saw over 500 horses and 1,000 participants pay tribute to the queen.

This year marks the queen's Platinum Jubilee , celebrating her 70 years on the throne, the first of its kind in the British monarchy's history. A central weekend of celebrations is planned in London at the beginning of June but the monarch's attendance at these was called into question last week when she had to pull out of the State Opening of Parliament owing to "episodic mobility problems."

The queen attended the Gallop Through History spectacular on Sunday with the event being described by Cruise as an "honor" to be involved with before he went on to introduce the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery section of the event.

The Mission Impossible star noted for his thrill-seeking tendencies described the Troop's performance as "one of the most enthralling, thrilling, heart-in-mouth displays in the land if not the world."

Speaking to British television network ITV before the event, Cruise called the queen "a woman who I greatly admire," adding that, "I think she's someone who has tremendous dignity and I admire her devotion."

"What she's accomplished has been historic...I have great respect for her and when they asked [me to take part in this event] I said instantly, 'it would be my honor' to be here."

Cruise's involvement in the evening however, caused consternation on social media with former royal chef Darren McGrady taking to Twitter , writing:

"Why was @TomCruise part of the British/Commonwealth #PlatinumJubileeCelebration Seriously, just wondering."

Why was @TomCruise part of the British/Commonwealth #PlatinumJubileeCelebration Seriously, just wondering. — Darren McGrady (@DarrenMcGrady) May 16, 2022

And writer Catherine Jones posted: "This #PlatinumJubilee thingy on ITV looks like a right dog's dinner. Is it live or isn't it? Are we going to have adverts inflicted on us every 10 minutes? And why the hell is Tom Cruise involved?"

This #PlatinumJubilee thingy on ITV looks like a right dog's dinner. Is it live or isn't it? Are we going to have adverts inflicted on us every 10 minutes? And why the hell is Tom Cruise involved? — Catherine Jones (@BodenJones) May 15, 2022

Cruise has a long association with the U.K. which may account for his involvement with the event, using the county as filming base for his Mission Impossible series and other projects.

Bella Cruise, the star's adopted daughter with actress Nicole Kidman, also lives in Britain with her husband, Max Parker.

As an American who has had the opportunity to meet many members of the royal family, including Princess Diana and Prince Philip, Cruise said of the queen in the pre-show interview:

"Not just Americans but the world knows the dignity, devotion and kindness, that is what I have always felt about her. Someone that understands her position and has held it through a history that's just been extraordinary the past 70 years."

• Queen Appears Smiling in Public After Missed Parliament Engagement
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• William, Kate Stress Importance of Relationships Before Harry, Meghan Visit

The star's new movie release Top Gun: Maverick will receive a special royal premiere, it was announced on Friday, with Prince William and Kate Middleton confirmed to be attending. The premiere, to be held on Thursday in London's Leicester Square, is being hosted by Paramount Pictures and The Film and TV Charity and will mark the 72nd Royal Film Performance of its kind.

Cruise was not the only Hollywood heavy hitter to take part in the equestrian jubilee celebration, Dame Helen Mirren, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Elizabeth II in the movie The Queen , performed a speech as Queen Elizabeth I and Homeland star Damian Lewis opened the proceedings.

The queen arrived at the show in a royal procession headed by the Household Cavalry and was filmed responding positively to the events throughout.

The queen's jubilee celebrations in June will include a special Trooping of the Colour ceremony, a pop concert outside Buckingham Palace and a pageant along The Mall which will include the gold state coach used at royal coronations.

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About the writer

James Crawford-Smith is a Newsweek Royal Reporter, based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on the British royal family and royal fashion. He has covered contemporary and historic issues facing King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana. James joined Newsweek in 2022 having previously contributed to titles such as The Lady, Majesty Magazine and Drapers. He also spent a number of years working with the curatorial department at Historic Royal Palaces, based at Kensington Palace, and contributed to the exhibitions Fashion Rules: Restyled (2016) and Diana: Her Fashion Story (2017). He also undertook private research projects with the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. He is a graduate of University College London and Central Saint Martins, where he studied fashion history. Languages: English.

You can get in touch with James by emailing [email protected].

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Tom Cruise became secret friends with Queen Elizabeth before her death

"Just the two of them had tea together. She loved seeing him and they really hit it off"

• 11:12, 6 Nov 2022
• Updated 11:33, 6 Nov 2022

The Queen met Hollywood actor Tom Cruise shortly before she died and the pair "really hit it off" over the summer, it is claimed.

The pair reportedly had tea for two at Windsor Castle where 60-year-old Cruise was given the full VIP treatment and completed his lifelong dream of landing a helicopter at a royal residence.

The Queen was said to have been disappointed not to meet him in person at a Platinum Jubilee equine pageant in the castle grounds in May.

Cruise reportedly delighted many of the Queen's guests and posed for selfies with fans but the late monarch was experiencing mobility problems so did not meet him.

However, she later invited him back to have a special tour of Windsor castle, followed by the tea, according to the Sunday Times.

A source said: "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. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter."

Cruise previously told how he loves Britain because of the beautiful countryside, friendly locals, great sights and history.

The Hollywood star has shot several movies in the UK, and is filming parts of upcoming spy film Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One here.

He also revealed how he can relax in Britain without being mobbed by fans and autograph hunters, and he ­particularly likes our cows and sheep.

Cruise, 60, said: "I guess I am an ­Anglophile. I spend a lot of time in Britain and that's not just for work reasons. I just love being here.

"It's a fantastic blend of old and new. I love seeing the sights, the Tower of London, Nelson's Column, Buckingham Palace and all those fantastic places which are just full of history.

"Britain is trendy, too, and has a lot that other countries then copy. I also love the British countryside.

"Seeing cows and sheep in the fields here is just so very British and just like we see in the movies in America.

"I always wondered whether it is really like that. It's great to go back to the US and say, 'Yes, it really is'."

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The Queen joined Tom Cruise and Helen Mirren at a glitzy royal event at Windsor Castle to mark her 70 years on the throne

• Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Helen Mirren joined the Queen at a Windsor Castle event on Sunday.
• The monarch was all smiles at the equestrian show celebrating her 70th year on the throne.
• It marks the second time she's made a public appearance in three days using her walking stick. 

Queen Elizabeth II was in good spirits while attending a Platinum Jubilee event at Windsor Castle on Sunday to mark her 70th year on the throne.

The 96-year-old monarch was pictured socializing with fellow attendees of the final evening of a four-day Royal Horse Show titled "A Gallop Through History." For the outdoor occasion, she wore a baby-blue gown, a sequined grey shawl, and accessorized with a small black handbag. 

Each day of the event saw over 500 horses and 1,000 performers put on a 90-minute show, according to the official ticket website. On the final evening, the Queen's granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor, rode Prince Philip's carriage as part of the show. 

Related stories

According to Reuters, the Queen arrived in a Range Rover . Upon exiting the vehicle, it was evident she was using a walking stick to help her move around. 

Sunday marked the second time in three days the Queen made a public appearance using her walking stick. As previously reported by Insider's Mikhiala Friel, the monarch's attended The Royal Horse Show on Friday, which was the first time she'd been seen out in public in weeks. It was also three days after she was represented by Prince Charles at the State Opening of Parliament , which she had to pull out of due to "mobility problems."

On May 9, a spokesperson for the monarch confirmed that she "continues to experience episodic mobility problems."

Nonetheless, she appeared to be all smiles on Sunday at the glitzy event, which welcomed an array of celebrity guests including Tom Cruise and Helen Mirren. 

Mirren, who played the monarch in the 2006 film "The Queen," ended the show dressed up as a Queen Elizabeth I. According to People , Mirren's final line on stage was: "For all these years you have carried our nation and have been its heart and drumbeat. Our sincere and most loving thanks." 

Meanwhile, Cruise, whose movie "Top Gun: Maverick" is set for a May 27 release, was a presenter at the show and was surrounded by fans as he decided to walk to the studio in Windsor, according to "This Morning" host Philip Schofield , The Mirror reported. 

Schofield interviewed Cruise live on air and said the Hollywood actor "caused absolute chaos in Windsor."

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Tom Cruise, Helen Mirren, Damian Lewis To Feature In ITV’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration

By Max Goldbart

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Tom Cruise , Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis are to lead the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations on ITV.

There will be 1,300 performers and 500 horses at the Windsor Castle event, which will also feature the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ant & Dec, Dame Joan Collins, Sir Mo Farah, Dame Maureen Lipman, Sir David Jason, Alan Titchmarsh and Dame Kelly Holmes.

The huge stars are commemorating 60 years on the throne for the Queen, who is now the longest-serving monarch, on 15 May.

Mirren, who played Elizabeth in 2006’s  The Queen,  will play Queen Elizabeth I during a theatrical event while a cast of Queens Players are introduced by a character played by comedian Omid Djalili.

Cruise and Lewis will oversee two of four theatrical events alongside Titchmarsh and Adjoa Andoh.

ITV Entertainment Commissioning Head Katie Rawcliffe said: “We’re thrilled to be broadcasting the first televised event for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee here on ITV. To mark this momentous occasion, we’ll be bringing the nation a celebratory, star-studded show, complete with show-stopping performances and an epic journey through history, told by some of the most well-renowned and respected names in film and television.”

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Queen Elizabeth Had Big Plans With Tom Cruise That Never Came To Fruition

Tom Cruise has fallen in love with Great Britain. Page Six reported that the iconic actor spent his 60th birthday at the British Grand Prix in July and then celebrated his landmark birthday with a bash in London that was not to be missed. According to the  Daily Mail, Cruise's party was hosted by James Corden, with tons of A-list celebrities attending, including Serena Williams, Natalie Portman, Simon Pegg, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

In an interview with Derbyshire Live (via the  Daily Mail ), Cruise explained his love for Great Britain. "Everyone is pleasant and will give you a nod or say hello without crowding you," he said. "I was brought up to be ­well-mannered, and you really get that in Britain." Page Six reported that the Hollywood superstar was shopping for a home in London's posh Kensington area, and there are rumors that Rebecca Ferguson's relationship with Cruise is cozy. 

It might be that the "Mission Impossible" actor is considering moving across the pond, and it appears that the Brits adore the American actor just as much.  Fans couldn't get enough of Cruise and Catherine Middleton's public interactions at Wimbledon and the "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere in London.

Like many Americans, Cruise is enamored with the royal family. According to The Times, royal insiders said that Cruise and Prince Philip "bonded" when they met in 2017 because they were both pilots. But, sadly, Queen Elizabeth and Cruise had big plans that never came to fruition.

Queen Elizabeth had a secret friendship with Tom Cruise

We knew that Queen Elizabeth was a legend, but we just found out the 96-year-old monarch had a secret friendship with legendary actor Tom Cruise.  The Mirror reported that the queen and the "Top Gun" star became friends after a Platinum Jubilee horse celebration. Cruise introduced the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery at the "A Gallop Through History" event in May 2022, and the star gushed to hosts Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham about the queen. 

"She's a woman I greatly admire," he said, per The Mirror. "She has tremendous dignity, and I admire her devotion. What she has accomplished has been historic." Cruise added, "I just have great respect for her ... When they asked I instantly said, 'it would be my honor to be here.'"

The queen and the A-lister didn't meet at the Platinum Jubilee celebration, but the monarch invited Cruise to Windsor Castle. According to The Times, the queen arranged for Cruise to get a VIP tour.

A royal insider told The Times, "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. He was even allowed to fly in by helicopter." 

The 96-year-old royal and the Hollywood star planned to have lunch again. But the heartbreaking death of the queen  happened before the new friends could meet again.

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Cruise v Titchmarsh: a right royal smackdown at the Queen’s platinum jubilee

Eyebrows have been raised with the announcement that the Tom Cruise will host part of the celebration – but can anything see off the Gardeners’ World heavyweight?

A t this stage it’s honestly hard to know what the Queen thinks of her imminent platinum jubilee. On the one hand, the outpouring of patriotic pageantry will provide a perfect distraction from all the terrible things her family keeps doing. But on the other, she’s going to have to sit through an awful lot of faff.

This week, the centrepiece of this faff was announced. Set within the grounds of Windsor Castle, the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebration will take place in front of a live audience of 4,000, and reportedly cover 400 years of British history. Helen Mirren will play Queen Elizabeth I and deliver a speech from 1588. There will be a long section about the Gunpowder Plot. There will be a lot of horses; 500 of them, in fact. And Katherine Jenkins. And Ant and Dec. It sounds tortuous. The Queen has had to put up with this sort of thing for 70 years now. You can’t help but feel that she’d probably just prefer a quiet night in with the snooker.

As tedious as the whole thing sounds, one thing alone will save the day. That thing, slightly unbelievably, is Tom Cruise . The show will reportedly be formed of four acts. Mirren will host one, Damian Lewis, Adjoa Andoh and Alan Titchmarsh will host the others, but they are all set to be blasted out of the water by Cruise’s turn. Nobody knows why this is happening or how it came to be, but it doesn’t matter. You will watch the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebration, just because someone booked Tom Cruise for it.

Realistically, nobody knows which Cruise will turn up. We may get the showboating action star, who will arrive on stage after leaping out of an exploding fighter jet before singlehandedly foiling the Gunpowder Plot by karate-kicking Guy Fawkes’s head clean off his shoulders. We may get overly reverent Cruise, who will be so humbled by his surroundings that he’ll lose focus and mangle the word “Leicestershire” beyond all recognition. If he wants to make friends, he’ll turn up with a T-shirt cannon loaded with coconut cake and blast slices straight into the mouths of his audience. If he wants to be memorable, he could Man v Food his way through a pile of identical curries . We simply just don’t know.

However, it would be wrong to assume that he can waltz into Windsor and run away with the whole show. If the Queen does turn up to watch the thing – and that’s still a big if, given her recent health concerns – then Cruise runs the risk of being second banana to Titchmarsh.

I mean it. If you’re the Queen, Titchmarsh is always going to be the real draw here. Think of all the shows the woman has been forced to endure in the last 20 years alone. Brian May played guitar on her roof and she couldn’t crack a smile. Atomic Kitten sang Dancing in the Street and she couldn’t have looked more bored. At this stage in her life, the woman has been subjected to the equivalent of 300 hours of elongated Paul McCartney Hey Jude singalongs, and the strain is definitely showing.

Perhaps the closest thing to Cruise that the Queen has ever encountered is the James Bond skit she performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, in which she pretended to jump out of a helicopter. Remember, this was Bond – a decades-old touchstone of British culture – and the woman scowled through the whole thing like she had a gun to her head. You sense that maybe, just maybe, she might not have seen Vanilla Sky.

The only time that the Queen has palpably expressed any enthusiasm for anything in public is that gif where she saw some cows, pointed at them and delightedly shouted the word “Cows!”. Titchmarsh is the personification of that cow gif. He’s all dirty fingernails and wax jackets. If the Queen can summon the energy to attend this event, it will be solely so she can see him, point at him and shout “Titchmarsh!”. Cruise might be one of the most famous men of all time, but even he can’t compete with star power like that.

• Alan Titchmarsh
• Queen Elizabeth II
• Queen's platinum jubilee

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Doch der Royal unterläuft ein Fehler Sarah Ferguson gedenkt der verstorbenen Queen Elizabeth II.

Bald ist es zwei Jahre her, seit Queen Elizabeth II. (1926–2022) für immer die Augen geschlossen hat. Am 21. April hätte die britische Regentin ihren 98. Geburtstag gefeiert. Aus diesem besonderen Anlass hat ihr Sarah Ferguson (64), ihre ehemalige Schwiegertochter, mit einem berührenden Post in den sozialen Medien Tribut gezollt. Dabei ist der Ex-Frau von Prinz Andrew (64) allerdings ein Fehler unterlaufen. 

Royal-Fans weisen auf den Fehler hin

«Heute gedenken wir Ihrer verstorbenen Majestät, Königin Elizabeth II., an ihrem 97. Geburtstag. Danke für alles, was du uns gelehrt hast, dafür, eine standhafte Anführerin zu sein und eine gute Freundin. Du wirst schmerzlich vermisst», schreibt die 64-Jährige auf Instagram zu einem Bild der freudestrahlenden Queen auf dem Balkon des Buckingham-Palasts. Doch Fans der britischen Königsfamilie müssen feststellen, dass sich ein Fehler in die herzergreifenden Zeilen eingeschlichen hat: Queen Elizabeth II. wäre am 21. April dieses Jahres 98 Jahre alt geworden – und nicht 97!

In zahlreichen Kommentaren unter dem Beitrag wird umgehend auf diesen Schnitzer aufmerksam gemacht. «Es wäre ihr 98. Geburtstag gewesen, da sie 1926 geboren wurde», heisst es da etwa, oder: «Ihr 98. Geburtstag, Sarah!». Eine weitere Person schreibt: «An alle, die Sarah Ferguson korrigieren ... Ich bin sicher, sie weiss genau, wie alt Queen Elizabeth gewesen wäre. Es kann sich nur um einen Tippfehler handeln.»

Neben den Korrektur-Hinweisen finden sich zahlreiche Kommentare, die der verstorbenen Königin gedenken. Jemand schreibt: «Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Eure Majestät.» Oder: «Immer geliebt, nie vergessen», gefolgt von zwei Herz-Emojis. (Spot On/lia)

• 1 Mit nur 34 Jahren Marathonläufer Adrian Lehmann nach Herzinfarkt verstorben
• 2 In Tunnelwand gekracht Lenker (24) schrottet seltenen 3-Millionen-Ferrari
• 3 T-Bone-Steaks und Desserts Achtköpfige Familie haut nach Festmahl ab