This is a changing image of the latest news from the British royal family.
Prince William visited the Raffles Hotel, London, on the evening of February 7 to attend the London Air Ambulance gala dinner.
Formerly an air ambulance pilot in East Anglia, he has been the patron of this organization, a helicopter emergency medical service, since 2020. Barely arrived, the Prince of Wales was photographed warmly shaking hands with Tom Cruise.
The American actor, famous for having played the role of Maverick, a young prodigy from the American naval aviation elite in the film
Top Gun
(1986), is also a fervent supporter of this London organization.
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“
This is Tom Cruise, who needs no introduction ,
”
Prince William said, laughing while greeting the American star.
After posing together, displaying broad smiles, the two men chatted for a few moments.
According to The Sun
magazine
, the atmosphere was apparently so relaxed that Tom Cruise even indulged in gently patting the Prince of Wales on the arm.
The latter, in a laughing mood, referred to the shoes decorated with the Maverick insignia that he wore during the premiere of
Top Gun: Maverick
two years ago.
The crown prince looked down at his feet and turned to Tom Cruise before declaring,
"
I didn't wear my
Top Gun
slippers .
"
Prince William and Tom Cruise at the London Air Ambulance gala dinner.
(London, February 7, 2024.) DANIEL LEAL / AFP
William returns to service
This appearance was Prince William's first, not counting the one he made the same morning in place of Charles III, since his wife was hospitalized on January 16 "for scheduled abdominal surgery."
On February 5, while the crown prince was at Kate Middleton's bedside since her return to their home at Adelaide Cottage, where she remains convalescing, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III was suffering from “a form of cancer” .
Since then, although Charles III remains in charge of state affairs, he has canceled all public appearances for the moment, and has begun following a treatment protocol.
Until further notice, it is therefore Prince William who takes center stage.