The name's Wills… Prince Wills

WITH men in tuxedos, women in their best evening dresses and even a royal presence, it was the type of glamorous, high-profile event perfectly tailored to a suave super-spy.

Last night, film fans thronged Leicester Square for the royal premiere of the 22nd film in the James Bond franchise.

Daniel Craig, the 40-year-old star of Quantum of Solace, joined Princes William and Harry as well as stars of the new film for the premiere in London.

Craig was dressed in a black tuxedo and wore his right arm in a sling, following a shoulder operation.

The actor, who performs as many of his own stunts as possible, severed a fingertip and had to have eight stitches in his face after being accidentally kicked on the set of the film. Accompanied by his long-time partner, Satsuki Mitchell, Craig waved to the crowd and spent several minutes posing for pictures and signing autographs.

Dame Judi Dench, reprising her role for the sixth time as MI6 boss "M", also walked the red carpet. She turned in front of the cameras to reveal an "007" traced in glitter on the back of her neck.

The Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, as well as director Marc Forster, arrived to be greeted by an excited crowd.

The Ukranian-born actress Olga Kurylenko, 28, who plays Bond girl Camille, also attended the event.

Jack White, who performed the latest Bond song, Another Way to Die, with R&B star Alecia Keys, also donned a tuxedo for the occasion.

Princes William and Harry had asked for the premiere to be a charity gala to help support two causes, the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. They met 200 invited servicemen, veterans and their families.

Reviews for the new film have so far mainly been positive, although Quantum of Solace is the shortest Bond movie to date, with a running time of one hour and 45 minutes.

It was shot on exotic locations, including Panama, Chile, Italy, Austria and Mexico. The high-octane action also sees rooftop chases, hand-to-hand combat and stunts involving bikes, boats, jets and cars.

As the film forms the jewel in the crown of the London Film Festival, ordinary fans had the chance to watch a public screening, shown minutes after the premiere ended.

Quantum of Solace – which takes its title from a short story in Bond creator Ian Fleming's 1960 anthology For Your Eyes Only – goes on general release in British cinemas tomorrow.