The Duchess of Cambridg e forced husband Prince William into "retreat mode" as she met Hollywood leading man Tom Cruise, a body language expert has said.
The superstar actor escorted the royal couple down the red carpet at the UK royal premiere of Top Gun: Maverick last night.
And the actor was hailed a "perfect gentleman" after royal fans spotted a sweet moment between him and Kate.
The duchess looked stunning in a gorgeous black and white off-the-shoulder gown by Roland Mouret, which she paired with seemingly very high heels.
So when it came to navigating several steep steps as she and William went to meet the rest of the cast of the movie, Tom kindly offered Kate his hand.
And according to body language expert Judi James, the encounter saw William play "second fiddle" to the actor, who along with Kate looked like a pair of "glittering A-list celebrities".
Judi told the Mirror: "As William was sweetly climbing into his fan-boy shoes complete with embroidered, Top Gun-style jets for the film’s premiere, did it ever cross his mind that he might end up spending a few minutes playing second fiddle on the red carpet as his wife was escorted by the iconic Tom Cruise, even placing a hand in a clasp over his as he offered it in a very gallant way as she climbed the stairs in her stunning, figure-hugging sheath dress?
Love the royals? Sign up for the Mirror's daily newsletter to get all the latest news on the Queen, Charles, Kate, Wills, Meghan, Harry and the rest of The Firm. Click here to sign up.
"For a minute they looked like a pair of glittering A-list celebrities posing there together to plug their new movie.
"From the moment Kate had spotted Tom she’d engaged in very animated conversation with him, suggesting she’d been busting to chat, and as she hit him with the full force of her dazzling smile it was possible to see William in temporary ‘retreat’ mode, sucking his lips in and lifting his hand towards his bow tie in a look of good-humoured submission.
"Whether the handclasp met royal protocol rules or not it was perfectly performed, without any hesitation or look of query from Kate.
"She oozed confidence in one of her most stunning looks to date, although she did veer to William’s side again once the introductions were all done, letting him go back to looking like Tom’s biggest fan as it was his turn to chat to the star instead."
William and Kate were at the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, as it was a Royal Film Performance.
The fundraising event is held in aid of The Film and TV Charity, which supports people working behind the scenes in the UK’s screen sector.
Initially called the Royal Command Film Performance, the first Royal Film Performance took place at the Empire Cinema in Leicester Square in 1946 and was attended by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.
Maverick, which has so far received rave reviews from critics, sees Hollywood star Cruise reprise the role of US naval aviator Pete Mitchell and is being released 36 years after the 1986 original.
Other stars include Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm and Glen Powell.
