Daniel Craig, Royals Attend ‘Spectre' Premiere in London
By Gregory Katz ••
James Bond (Daniel Craig) returns in “Spectre,” which hits theaters November 6, 2015.
The new James Bond flick "Spectre" got a royal seal of approval at its world premiere Monday night.
Fans who lined the red carpet not only got to see Daniel Craig — resplendent in a dark tuxedo and earthy smile — and glamorous co-stars Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci, but could also catch a glimpse of Prince William, his wife Kate, and Prince Harry, still sporting a beard.
All eyes were on Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, who was among the last to arrive at the Royal Albert Hall before the film rolled. She chose a light blue Jenny Packham dress for the event.
Getty Images
Lea Seydoux, Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci attend the Royal World Premiere of 'Spectre' at Royal Albert Hall on October 26, 2015 in London, England. Click through to see more photos of the cast and crew of the 007 franchise promoting the films about Britain's most famous secret agent over the years.
Getty Images
Christoph Waltz, from left to right, Monica Bellucci, Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Sam Mendes, and Naomie Harris pose for photographers during the photo call for the latest Bond film, "Spectre," at an hotel in central London, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015.
AP
In this 1963 file photo, Scottish actor Sean Connery, left, actress Phyllis Newman and conductor Leonard Bernstein are shown at the US premiere of the James Bond movie "Dr. No" in New York. "Dr. No" was the first official Bond film adaptation of an Ian Fleming novel. The movie didn't have anything like the budget of future Bond films. Connery would play Bond in five further authorized films, before returning from a 12-year hiatus to star in the unofficial "Never Say Never Again" in 1983.
AP
In this Apr. 25, 1963 file photo, Sean Connery and Italian actress Daniela Bianchi are seen in Istanbul, Turkey. The pair were in the country filming the second Bond film, 'From Russia with Love.' Connery was playing the British secret agent for the second time in what many critics consider to be one of the best Bond films of all. His suave but menacing Bond remains the standard for many Bond fans.
AP
In this January 10, 1969 file photo, Sean Connery's replacement as James Bond, George Lazenby, is pictured with British actress Diana Rigg. The two are captured during takes of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" at Schilthorn near Muerren, Switzerland. Though the Australian actor never played Bond again following disagreements with producers, his one outing is highly regarded, with the film's ending perhaps the most memorable in the entire Bond series.
AP
In this Aug. 1, 1972 file photo, Roger Moore poses for a photograph at the Dorchester Hotel in London, after the announcement that he would play James Bond in "Live and Let Die." Moore was the first Englishman to play Bond. Aided by his natural charm and comic timing, Moore's seven Bond films were more light-hearted than those that had gone before. His films saw a proliferation of gadgets, which grated with many Bond fans.
AP
In this May 20, 1977 file photo, Roger Moore is accompanied by co-star Barbara Bach as they arrive for the screening of "The Spy Who Loved Me" at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera. Moore played Bond seven times over a dozen years. By the time he finished playing 007 in 1985's "A View To A Kill," he was 57, making him the oldest actor to portray Bond.
AP
In this Monday, June 29, 1987 file photo, Princess Diana meets Timothy Dalton, who succeeded Roger Moore as James Bond at the charity premiere of "The Living Daylights" at London's Odeon Cinema. The Welshman, who was a trained Shakespearean actor, played Bond twice. His interpretation of Bond was far grittier than Moore's. After his second outing as Bond, 1989's "License To Kill," legal issues meant Bond wouldn't return again until 1995's "Goldeneye", when Pierce Brosnan took over the role.
AP
In this Monday, Nov. 118, 2002 file photo Pierce Brosnan poses with co-star Halle Berry at the world premiere of the James Bond film "Die Another Day" at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This was the fourth and final time that the suave and demure Irishman played the British secret agent. The same venue hosted the world premiere of Daniel Craig's latest outing as 007, "Spectre," on Monday, Oct. 26.
AP
In this Sunday, Nov. 17, 1996 file photo, three of the actors who played James Bond, Timothy Dalton left, Roger Moore, center, and Pierce Brosnan, at a London cinema to celebrate the life of Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, the American film producer behind seventeen Bond movies. In total, six actors have portrayed Bond officially. "Spectre," with Daniel Craig as 007 is the 24th in the series.
AP
In this Friday Oct. 14, 2005 file photo, new James Bond, Daniel Craig, 2nd right, arrives by boat for his press unveiling in London. Craig's selection was revealed as he was whisked down the River Thames aboard a military Rigid Raider boat. "Spectre," which had its premiere Monday Oct. 26, 2015, in London in front of Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry, is the fourth time Craig will reprise his role as the British secret agent.
Getty Images
Daniel Craig embraces Christoph Waltz, his co-star in the new James Bond film, "Spectre," in London. Craig has indicated that "Spectre" may be the last time he will don James Bond's tuxedo. His portrayal of Bond has won widespread acclaim, notably in his first outing in 2006's "Casino Royale" and 2012's "Skyfall."
The two princes wore tuxedos, which have been something of a Bond trademark since the days when Sean Connery played 007 for the first time in "Dr. No" in 1962.
The royals, who arrived in a Bentley, were greeted by director Sam Mendes and co-producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Craig, accompanied by his film star wife Rachel Weisz, patiently posed for dozens of selfies with adoring fans. He told reporters he had "loved every minute" he's spent as Bond and declined to answer questions about whether he would return for a fifth turn as the sexy, world-saving British agent.
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
Seydoux wore a shimmering gold backless gown for the night that marked her emergence as the latest in a long line of romantic interests for the suave British agent. Bellucci, also a love interest in the film, wore a dark gown with a plunging neckline.
Naomie Harris, reprising her role as loyal Miss Moneypenny, wore a low-cut full length orange dress to the premiere.
They were joined by Christoph Waltz, the Academy Award winner recruited to play villain Franz Oberhauser, who challenges Bond in a series of exotic locales, and Ben Whishaw, who has an expanded role as the gadget master Q.
British critics have praised the film and Craig's performance.
