Sir David Beckham Calls Royal Film Premiere an 'Honour' as Brooklyn's Absence Casts Shadow Over Family Night Out

It was a night of Hollywood glamour, royal warmth and Beckham family solidarity — though not quite the full set. Sir David Beckham brought two of his three sons to Tuesday's Royal Film Performance of Digger at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, joining Tom Cruise and the Prince and Princess of Wales for one of London's most glittering premieres in years. Brooklyn Beckham, 27, was conspicuously absent amid the family's ongoing dispute.

Sir David, 51, arrived alongside Romeo, 24, and Cruz Beckham, 21, all three impeccably turned out in matching black tuxedos as they gathered on the red carpet ahead of the world premiere of Cruise's new satirical comedy. The former England captain took to Instagram the following morning to capture the mood.

The photographs from the evening told their own story. William and Sir David were spotted laughing together, while Princess Catherine exchanged a warm few words with Romeo and Cruz — even offering the brothers a friendly thumbs-up — before the royal couple moved on down the red carpet. William, in a moment of easy informality, was also seen pointing to his watch as they departed.

The warmth between the two families is no passing acquaintance. Sir David and Lady Victoria Beckham were among the guests at William and Catherine's Westminster Abbey wedding in 2011, and Romeo had previously met the couple at Wembley Stadium during England's Euro 2020 clash with Germany. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in 2025, Sir David was characteristically candid about where his loyalties lie.

He described himself as a "huge royalist" on that same occasion, adding that he always gets emotional discussing his relationship with the Royal Family — a sentiment that clearly hasn't dimmed since he was knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle last November for his services to sport and charity.

The premiere, the 73rd Royal Film Performance, was held in support of the Film and TV Charity, with William and Catherine welcomed by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of London before being escorted down the red carpet by Marcus Ryder, chief executive of the Film and TV Charity, and chair Claire Tavernier. Tom Cruise — every bit the Hollywood gentleman — took Catherine's hand to guide her down the cinema steps, a gesture that went down a treat with onlookers.

It marked the Waleses' first film premiere since the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in May 2022, and Cruise has made no secret of his affection for the couple. "I just love them. They are lovely people, and I have great respect for them," the actor said ahead of their arrival. He and Prince William have also bonded over a shared passion for flying — a connection Cruise acknowledged at the 2022 premiere: "We both love England, and we're both aviators; we both love flying."

Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and cast members including Riz Ahmed were also on hand to greet the royal couple, with Cruise himself describing the evening as "an absolute joy and an honour." Digger is Iñárritu's first English-language film since The Revenant, and marks Cruise's first project since signing a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery in January. The film shot in the UK for six months and stars Cruise as Digger Rockwell alongside a cast that includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons, Sophie Wilde, Riz Ahmed and Emma D'Arcy.

For all the glitz of the evening, the empty space where Brooklyn Beckham might have stood was hard to ignore. The 27-year-old was not present amid the family's ongoing dispute, leaving his father and two younger brothers to represent the Beckham name. Romeo and Cruz appeared relaxed and at ease throughout — clasping hands for photographs with the royals and mirroring their father's polished tuxedo style — but the family rift, however carefully managed in public, cast its own quiet shadow over what was otherwise a triumphant night for Sir David on home turf.