Inspecting the troops
Princes William and Harry attend premiere – but did they also appear in the film as stormtroopers?
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry are confronted by a squad of stormtroopers on the red carpet at last night’s London premiere of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi. The two princes reportedly wore the white uniforms of the evil empire’s soldiers during the making of the film, appearing in a scene incognito with the actor Tom Hardy and singer Gary Barlow.
THE Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry were among the celebrity guests at the premiere of Star War Episode VIII: The Last Jedi in London last night and, if rumour is to be believed, their names should also appear on the rolling credits at the end of the film itself. The pair, both “huge fans” of the legendary sci-fi series, allegedly donned stormtrooper outfits and filmed scenes during a private tour of Pinewood Studios in Bucks last year.
The princes joined a host of wellknown faces on the red carpet last night for the European premiere at the Royal Albert Hall, but if they spotted themselves on screen, their lips were firmly sealed.
The siblings met the cast and crew before the screening, hosted in aid of The Royal Foundation and attended by more than 400 young people, military veterans and volunteers who have taken part in the charity’s programmes. Among those who braved the December chill were Daisy Ridley, who gave a nod to her character Rey with a spaceinspired black gown, and Alexandra Burke, the Strictly Come Dancing finalist. Several stars of the film paid tribute to Carrie Fisher, their former co-star, who died aged 60 last December having already begun filming.
Mark Hamill thanked fans of the franchise for helping him come to terms with the death of the “one-of-akind” actress. The pair – who played brother and sister duo Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa in the original Seventies and Eighties trilogy – reprised their roles in the latest instalment. “Everywhere I go people are helping me deal with it,” he said.
“I shouldn’t be upset she’s not around, I should be grateful for all the time I had with her. She was hilarious, adorable. As tough as she acted, she
‘Carrie Fisher was hilarious, adorable… She was so much fun. She’s great in the film’
had a vulnerability; I criticised her all the time but if anyone else did I’d get my back up and say, ‘Don’t you do that’. She was so much fun. She’s great in the film.”
John Boyega, who plays Finn in the sequel, which marks the 40th anniversary of the series, let the cat out of the bag about the royals’ involvement in the summer.
Tom Hardy, the actor, and Gary Barlow, the Take That singer, are also believed to be in the same scene, all four said to have squeezed themselves into stormtrooper outfits. The four appear together, guarding Boyega’s character, Finn, in an elevator, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Boyega joked that sharing a scene with the royals and Hardy “wrapped in stormtroopers’ costumes” made for a “strange contrast of a weird family.” He said it was more “fun” than intimidating and was “a great experience.”