Princess Diana Said She Would Not Date Tom Cruise Years before He 'Buddied Up' to Her Son William

Tom Cruise has had a successful career and among his life's highlights is his friendship with Princess Diana, who said the actor was too short to date. Recently, Cruise "buddied up" with Prince William for his new film premiere, a seemingly innocent action that has left a bitter taste in people's mouths.

The Queen's Jubilee celebration has been a topic of interest for several weeks. While some have chosen to concentrate on the royal family, others debate the reasons behind some stars' appearances at the June celebration.

One such center of discussion has been "Top Gun" actor Tom Cruise, who brought confusion with his presence at the event, during which he praised the monarch's dignity and devotion to her country.

However, it was not the first time Cruise interacted with the royal family, as they have had relations for years. The actor was mainly known to be close to Princess Diana.

The two met on July 30, 1992, when Cruise and his then-wife "Genius" actress Nicole Kidman greeted the Princess of Wales at the premiere of "Far and Away" at the Empire, Leicester Square in London.

Later, Diana would open up to her chef, Darren McGrady, saying that she'd gotten an invite to the making of "Mission Impossible" at the Pinewood Studios in London. She wondered if William and Harry, who were only little boys then, would love it.

After taking the boys, she came back and told McGrady that the William and Harry had loved every minute of the explosions, and as she walked out of the kitchen, she said:

"That's another one off the list, Darren. He's too short!"

Diana had met Cruise and even considered him a potential boyfriend, but the "Oblivion" actor did not fit the bill because of his height. It is crucial to note that the princess would, on more than one occasion, escape the Buckingham Palace to see Cruise in "Jerry Maguire" alongside her confidante author, Stewart Pearce.

Tragically, the princess passed on five years after meeting Cruise. The actor and his wife attended her funeral at Westminster Abbey in London, alongside Tom Hanks and more of the princess' famous friends.

PRINCE WILLIAM'S FRIENDLY CHATS WITH CRUISE

Three decades after meeting William, the actor still recalled that the prince was a fan of movies. He invited William and his wife, Kate Middleton, to the premiere of the new "Top Gun: Maverick" film, having also learned that William was an avid fan of the original movie. They also attended the screening of the film.

Cruise had also found out that he and William had another shared interest. They were both trained pilots. Speaking about his admiration for William, Cruise said:

"We both love England, and we're both aviators. We both love flying."

The royals and the actor's relationship seems to lean more on friendship as they chatted comfortably during the event.

DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE & TOM CRUISE BROKE ROYAL PROTOCOL

The royals must follow all sorts of protocol, whether out on official duty or carrying out various royal activities. These protocols have been part of the family for years.

And while the royal family members are expected to follow them to the letter, there are several mishaps here and there, as was the case during Middleton and William's night at the "Top Gun: Maverick."

During an act of chivalry, Cruise offered his hand to Middleton as they went up a flight of stairs, and Middleton accepted with no qualms. His act of generosity may have been out of a kind heart, but it turns out it was a breach of protocol.

According to reports, one is not supposed to touch a royal, and it has always been well-established that no one is allowed to take the Queen by the hand unless she has offered it in the first place.

In Middleton's case, it appears she knew they had broken protocol because as soon as Cruise let go of her hand, she moved her bag to the hand he'd held to prevent him from holding it again as they ascended more stairs.

As with almost all of the royals' actions, the instance has sparked a divide in public opinion. Some believe Cruise was only trying to be a gentleman by offering to hold the duchess' hand.

"He is always a gentleman and never forgets for a second how to behave in public," one Twitter user said, as Yahoo! News writes. Others expressed their admiration for the Hollywood star for his gesture, saying he turned into "Prince Charming" for the duchess.

However, others felt the action, no matter how well-meaning it had been, was unacceptable. Another said that while it was not unheard of for a non-royal to come into contact with a royal, it was unusual.

To shed some light on the matter, royal biographer Omid Scobie told Yahoo! News editor that there were no official rules concerning touching a royal member and that it all came down to what was acceptable in society.

He shared that while many things are considered royal protocol, they are not. Scobie felt that if the duchess had not been okay with the gesture, she would not have given her hand to Cruise. He added:

"It could have been far worse. The worst would be for her to trip downstairs at a royal film premiere."

TOM CRUISE'S BUDDYING UP TO ROYALS MAY BE FAKE

To many, Cruise is simply being a buddy to William and Middleton by inviting them to his film's premiere. However, others seem to think he is using an age-old trick in the industry known as the "brand halo effect."

The idea is to associate yourself with something good, believing it will rub off on you. The result is that you will look favorable, influencing endorsements or otherwise unachievable benefits.

For instance, in Cruise's case, hanging out and being friends with the Cambridges is reportedly highly likely to give his new film the "royal stamp of approval," resulting in a boost in public awareness and subsequently increased sales.

Sources also claim Cruise has been doing this long before William and Middleton — during his brief friendship with the Princess of Wales.

Asked what he thought of the Cambridges being at the "Top Gun: Maverick" premiere, Cruise said it was a privilege, adding how honored and respectful he felt towards them for supporting the arts.