Queen Elizabeth's secret friendship with Tom Cruise months before her death

The Queen reportedly hit it off with Tom Cruise as the pair struck up a secret friendship following her Platinum Jubilee, as Elizabeth was so gutted she had missed the actor during the celebrations that she arranged a private meeting afterwards.

It's thought the pair were set to reunite for a second lunch date, but never got the chance as she died at the beginning of September.

Queen Elizabeth and Tom Cruise's friendship

A source told The Times: "The Queen let it be known 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. 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 Mission Impossible actor made a stunning return to the big screen this year with Top Gun: Maverick, and similarly impressed the Queen when they did finally get to meet.

She even allowed him to land his helicopter on her Windsor Castle lawn, and reportedly pulled out all the stops for their tea.

That was after they'd been set to meet in May at the equestrian event 'A Gallop Through History'.

"She's just a woman that I greatly admire," Cruise said. "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."

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