How the unlikely friendship between the late Queen and Tom Cruise began

A member of the British royal family and a Hollywood actor are unlikely to have a strong friendship, but the late Queen Elizabeth and Tom Cruise have beaten the odds.

To celebrate the departed monarch’s 70th anniversary on the throne, Tom Cruise attended the Platinum Jubilee equine pageant in May but had to leave early due to mobility issues.

The former monarch was reportedly “disappointed” she didn’t get an opportunity to meet Tom and asked him to Windsor Castle for tea.

“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,” a source informed 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.”

The source revealed Tom “was even allowed to fly in by helicopter” and land it himself on the lawns of Windsor.

This allowance was proof enough of her fondness of the Hollywood actor after being scorned by former United States president Donald Trump in 2019. He allegedly insisted on flying to the grounds of Buckingham Palace twice a day which led to damages on the lawn.

Sources further revealed that Tom was asked to return for lunch in the upcoming future, however it sadly never took place as Queen suddenly passed away on September 8.

Tom and the late Prince Philip also shared a strong connection after bonding on their love for flying during a charity dinner at Buckingham Palace where the actor also confessed his wish to land an aircraft on the grounds of a royal residence.

During the Jubilee in May 2022, the Top Gun actor told A Gallop Through History that he deeply admired 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. I just remember always as a kid seeing photos of her.”

Profile Tia Thomas Senior Digital Content Producer

After completing a Bachelor of Communication, majoring in Journalism and Media Production, Tia began her career in media 2022. She writes on the Now To Love website, particularly for the legacy brand TV Week and manages its social media platforms. She is currently the Senior Digital Content Producer on Now To Love, writing predominately for TV Week while managing all its social media platforms. It is here she can combine her professional and personal passions for reality TV, drama, celebrity, Australian and International TV – and donning her favourite clothes for a red carpet to interview some of television’s best.