James Bond premiere boasts glitz on the red carpet

A long-delayed event due to the pandemic: The 25th film in the James Bond series and Daniel Craig's final outing as 007, "No Time to Die" finally celebrated its world premiere in London on Tuesday. It marks the end of an era for the actor who first portrayed the iconic British secret agent in 2006. He is shown here with co-stars Lashana Lynch and Lea Seydoux, along with director Cary Fukunaga.

Showing up at the Royal Albert Hall in a pink velvet jacket, Craig looked just as suave as the spy he's portrayed in five movies. With the release of "No Time To Die" delayed three times, Craig was relieved to finally see it happen. "A year ago, this was just a dream. It didn't look like we'd get here," he said. "But we have and I'm just happy that we're here and we can celebrate with everybody."

"It's been such a crazy time for all of us. And now to celebrate, you know, with this film, to reunite. And it's great. I'm really happy," said Lea Seydoux at the premiere. Bond was renowned for his fleeting romantic conquests, but now 007 seems ready to settle down for the first time. In "No Time To Die," Seydoux returns in the role of French psychologist Madeleine Swann from "Spectre."

"The standard bearer of British soft power is back," writes "Guardian" critic Peter Bradshaw. The initial release date was in April 2020, when the UK was stockpiling toilet paper; now, as fuel pumps remain dry in the country, the British royals made a rare public appearance, with Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall gracing the red carpet.

Prince Charles shook hands with Daniel Craig as part of the royal family's long tradition of attending Bond premieres. Queen Elizabeth greeted 007 actor Sean Connery at the premiere of "You Only Live Twice" in 1967. Princess Diana eventually took over hand-shaking duties, while adding glitz to the premieres with her outstanding gowns.

Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, who channeled Bond girl glamor in a glitzy gown designed by Jenny Packham, meets Billie Eilish, dressed in shimmering black. The superstar wrote and recorded the theme song for "No Time to Die" in three days. Even though Eilish is the youngest artist to have written and sung a James Bond theme, hers is the first by a female singer to top UK charts.

Whether in Shakespearean dramas or in James Bond films, British actor Judi Dench is renowned for her outstanding performances. From "GoldenEye" in 1995 to "Spectre" in 2015, where she appears posthumously in a video will, she portrayed James Bond's boss, M. When her character died at the end of "Skyfall" (2012), Dench was succeeded by Ralph Fiennes.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator of "Fleabag" and "Killing Eve," was brought in by producer Barbara Broccoli to spice up the script. Even though Waller-Bridge says she only tweaked the storyline a bit, Daniel Craig is among the fans of her work. "Her influence permeates a lot of this film. She walked that fantastic line of keeping it as a thriller and being very funny," he told Radio Times.

Lashana Lynch made history by becoming the first Black woman to assume the role of Agent 007, as Bond retires in "No Time To Die." Despite the backlash she has faced on social media, the star is strengthened by the importance of her role. "I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I'm a part of something that will be very, very revolutionary," she told "Bazaar UK."