No Time To Die: Kate Middleton steals the show at James Bond premiere; Twitterati declare her as 'ultimate Bond girl'

Actor Daniel Craig walked the red carpet for the final time as James Bond in rain-swept London on Tuesday, at the star-studded but much-delayed world premiere of the latest superspy blockbuster, "No Time To Die".

British star Craig's fifth and final outing in the franchise is hitting big screens after its release was repeatedly postponed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Royal couples Prince Charles and Camilla and Prince William and Kate were also at the premiere at London's historic Royal Albert Hall.

Former Bond actress Judi Dench and Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish, who sings the film's theme tune, also attended.

Photo: AP; James Bond Instagram

"It's such a great relief. It was so important to me to come and celebrate with all the other cast and crew and to get it into the cinemas and we're here," Craig told Reuters at the grand premiere.

"A year ago I didn't think that was going to happen."

Asked what he was going to miss the most from playing 007, he said: "The people."

In the film, reportedly costing $250 million (£182 million, 214 million euros), Bond returns to active service after retirement, vowing, "I have to finish this."

With Craig bowing out, calling the role "a massive part" of his life, speculation has mounted over who will inherit his fabled licence to kill. Craig held onto the role longer than any of his predecessors since his 2006 debut in 'Casino Royale'.

He has won praise for adding depth and emotional complexity to the all-action role, but only reluctantly agreed to one final appearance as Bond.

UK bookmakers are tipping the likes of Tom Hardy or Rege-Jean Page, the mixed-race star of the hit show 'Bridgerton'.

Read Also: Daniel Craig says 'No Time To Die' makers didn't let him take James Bond's Aston Martin as memorabilia

Actress Lea Seydoux, who plays Dr. Madeleine Swann, the love interest of the suave spy James Bond in the upcoming film 'No Time To Die', has shared that romance plays a key role in the movie.

Seydoux told the I newspaper, "It's much more emotional this time. And it's the love story with James Bond that is in the centre of the film."

She also praised Daniel Craig for adding more depth to the famous character and creating "empathy" for Bond by removing the misogyny associated with the spy.

Seydoux said, "It's also because Daniel created a character with more depth, as well... He changed the part of James Bond. I think he managed to create more empathy with his character. Now: Bond is not what he used to be like: a misogynist."

Britain's royals joined Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux and the cast of 'No Time to Die' on the red carpet for the new Bond film's world premiere Tuesday, a glittering event that marked the movie's release after multiple delays caused by the pandemic.

Craig, who turned up for the red carpet at the Royal Albert Hall in a pink velvet dinner jacket, told reporters how relieved he was that the film was finally making its way to cinemas.

“A year ago, this was just a dream. It didn’t look like we would get here. But we have and I’m just happy that we’re here and we can celebrate with everybody,” he said.

Craig, 53, has played the suave secret agent in five movies, beginning with 'Casino Royale' in 2006.

Asked how he felt about saying goodbye to the role, he said: “I'm good. I’m really good about it.” As for who would be his successor, he simply quipped: “Not my problem.”

Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate the Duchess of Cambridge made a rare joint appearance at the premiere, and Kate stole the show with a sparkling gold cape dress by designer Jenny Peckham.

Pic: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Instagram

Director Cary Joji Fukunaga said in a promotional video that his Bond is "like a wounded animal", struggling because "the world has changed, the rules of engagement aren't what they used to be: the rules of espionage (are) darker in this era of asymmetric warfare".

The Bond films are based on a character created by upper-class British writer Ian Fleming in novels published in the 1950s and 1960s.

As the MeToo movement has heightened awareness of misogyny in popular culture, some have argued that time has run out for the franchise.

The new film's director has also criticised Bond's sexual exploits. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Fukunaga said that in one 1960s-era film, "basically Sean Connery's character rapes a woman".

"That wouldn't fly today," he stressed.

In the film, Bond spars with a black female MI6 agent, played by Briton Lashana Lynch, and has to take a back seat to her as she flies a plane.

"It's an incredible moment to have a female black lead in a movie who is holding her own," Lynch told Sky News on the red carpet.

"It feels really empowering for me to even play her. It felt like the stars aligned for this one," she said.