London Evening Standard/London


Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the premiere of War Horse at the Odeon Leicester Square cinema in London
The Duchess of Cambridge was moved to tears by Steven Spielberg’s new film War Horse at its premiere, the director said yesterday.
Kate, who shared the red carpet in Leicester Square with chestnut colt Joey, the equine star of the First World War epic, stole the show in a floor-length black lace Alice Temperley gown.
Spielberg told BBC Breakfast: “I was sitting next to her and all I know is at one point my wife, who was sitting to my right, right in front of my face she passed a Kleenex... I saw the Kleenex go across my face, arrive and stop but I didn’t want to intrude on her experience watching War Horse so I never glanced over.”
Kate, who turned 30 yesterday, was with her husband at Sunday night’s screening in aid of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, which helps the welfare of the armed forces.
The couple chatted to some of the 600 serving and ex-military personnel and their families who attended along with beneficiaries of military charities.
The Duke and Duchess also spoke to Spielberg and the War Horse cast including Emily Watson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hiddleston, who went to school with William.
The film, nominated for best drama at the Golden Globes, is based on the play which notched up sell-out West End and Broadway runs after being adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford from a novel by Michael Morpurgo.
It tells the story of a young British soldier and his struggle to be reunited with his faithful horse on the battlefields of France. Spielberg said the play moved him to tears, admitting: “I came out a soaking-wet wreck.”
War Horse, which opens in cinemas on Friday, largely met with critics’ approval yesterday, with The Times and the Daily Express awarding it four out of five stars and The Independent, giving it three out of five.