Tom Cruise has never been one to hide his admiration for Kate Middleton, and his compliments about the Princess of Wales have been anything but subtle. The Hollywood star has publicly praised her charisma, elegance, intelligence, and sense of humor. He has also spoken warmly about Prince William and alongside her, calling them “beautiful people” and declaring that the Prince of Wales made a “smart choice” in marrying her. Yet, according to a few insiders, Cruise’s generous praise may have landed rather differently with Prince William

In actuality, a few insiders have pointed out that the constant admiration from the Top Gun star may have stirred jealousy among some.

RadarOnline has offered a rather less flattering account of Prince William’s reaction to Tom Cruise’s attention toward Kate Middleton. According to the outlet, sources claimed that the Prince of Wales threw a “bit of a jealous hissy fit” behind the scenes after realizing how much attention the Princess of Wales and the Hollywood star were receiving. The report paints a distinctly different picture of the royal response.

That account, however, does not quite align with reports suggesting that the Prince and Princess of Wales regard Cruise’s admiration as harmless fun. Royal insiders have reportedly indicated that the couple are well aware of the actor’s high regard for Middleton and are comfortable with his flattering remarks. Rather than an awkward royal triangle, the attention may simply be another reflection of the Princess’s popularity.

Media experts have also pointed to Kate Middleton’s widespread public appeal as a reason Cruise’s admiration feels entirely unsurprising. Her strong standing with audiences around the world and relatively scandal-free public image have helped make the Princess of Wales a particularly popular figure. Whether the reported jealousy by RadarOnline has any truth to it remains unclear, leaving two very different accounts of Prince William’s reaction.

Prince William Declares Himself a "Big Fan" of Filmmaker Christopher Nolan

The truth about Prince William’s alleged jealousy remains up in the air, much like Prince Harry’s odds of repairing his relationship with his brother. But here is the twist: Prince William is a fan of the Hollywood star, too.

Prince William’s admiration for Tom Cruise goes well beyond a passing appreciation for Hollywood blockbusters. Their connection dates back to 1995, when Princess Diana took the young princes to visit the set of the original Mission: Impossible, where the young princes were fascinated by the pyrotechnics. Years later, their shared love of aviation and flying would give the friendship another common thread.

Cruise has acknowledged that he and the Prince of Wales have plenty in common, including their passion for flying. The actor even arranged an exclusive early screening of Top Gun: Maverick for Prince William and Kate Middleton before its London premiere in 2022. From supporting Prince William’s air ambulance charity gala in 2024 to welcoming the royals at Digger’s 2026 premiere, Cruise’s friendship with the future king makes the reported jealousy surrounding his admiration for the Princess of Wales all the more intriguing.

Prince Harry and Prince William's Relationship Update in 2026: Complete Timeline of The Royal Family Feud

What did you think of the reported jealousy by Prince William's side? Let us know in the comments!