There’s a reason the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ’s kids did not accompany them to the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. “It is a school night!” Kate was overheard explaining in a video shared by Emily Nash, royal editor at HOLA! USA’s sister brand HELLO!. According to Emily, William revealed that they had been playing the Top Gun soundtrack for their children at home ahead of the premiere.
Poppy Saunders, who presented the Duchess with flowers at the star-studded event, shared (via HELLO! ), “I gave the flowers and shook hands and she said ‘hello Poppy.’ She said a lot about how the kids love the film as well.”
Her mother Linsay Saunders revealed that the Duchess told them that Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four, “wished they were here tonight.” William also told nine-year-old Alfie Everett-Fletcher that his children were “jealous” to miss the premiere.
Thursday wasn’t the first time the Duke and Duchess have seen the Top Gun sequel. Tom confirmed to Entertainment Tonight at the premiere in London that he had given the royal couple an advance screening “early on.” He said, “[William’s] an aviator, so [I knew] he’d have a lot of fun.”
William and Kate hit the red carpet with the Hollywood star on May 19. Tom gave the Duchess a helping hand as she walked up steps on the carpet in an elegant off-the-shoulder gown by Roland Mouret. “Wonderful to join @tomcruise, cast, crew and fans of Top Gun: Maverick for this evening’s UK premiere,” the Cambridges’ social media accounts wrote alongside photos from the star-studded outing. “The premiere is in support of the work of @filmtvcharity which helps the tens of thousands of people working behind the scenes in the UK’s world-leading film and television industry.”