Tom Cruise is seen for the first time since spending the evening with Prince William as he prepares to leave the UK with a female companion for the Las Vegas Super Bowl

Tom Cruise was spotted on a helipad in Battersea, London, as he prepared to leave the UK for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas on Friday.

The actor, 61, recently spent the evening with Prince William at a gala in support of London’s Air Ambulance Charity at Raffles London at the OWO (Old War Office).

Mission Impossible star Tom arrived with a mystery female companion, after piloting the matte black helicopter himself and landing on the helipad.

Tom will attend the annual American football championship final in Sin City on Sunday evening.

The Hollywood star opted for smart casual in a navy blue sweater with a padded jacket, which he teamed with jeans and white sneakers.

He was pictured jumping from the front of the plane before getting into a car waiting for them to land in the capital.

Tom’s female companion wore a cream-colored padded jacket with a beige sweater and wide-leg jeans and sneakers.

During their evening together, Prince William jokingly recalled his stylish fashion choice from the 2022 premiere of Top Gun: Maverick.

The Prince of Wales, 41, returned to public appearances at the glitzy gala following news that his father, King Charles III, had been diagnosed with cancer.

Tom has been a long-time supporter of the charity, and when he spotted the actor, William joked: “I’m not wearing my Top Gun slippers.”

The father of three referenced his playful fashion choice at the Top Gun premiere: a pair of black loafers decorated with airplanes, reminiscent of the fighter jet used in the original 1986 action film.

The stylish slippers marked a departure for William, who typically plays it safe when it comes to his fashion choices.

William’s slippers cost £300 and were custom made by Crockett & Jones, the desirable shoemaker with the royal warrant.

The royal family shifted its focus from family matters following Kate’s hospitalization for serious abdominal surgery and King Charles’ shock cancer diagnosis to undertake a day of engagements, with an investiture at Windsor Castle, followed by the charity fundraising event.

Elsewhere in the evening, Prince William thanked the nation for its “kind expressions of support” for his wife and father.

In a speech, the Prince of Wales said the heartfelt words of comfort his family received “mean a lot to us all.”

It was a particularly busy day for the prince – who is now the monarchy’s most prominent public figure – as he presented more than 50 awards on behalf of the king.

The monarch is recovering at Sandringham after his first cancer treatment and Kate is home after abdominal surgery.

As he entered the room, the Prince of Wales said he “hugely appreciates everyone’s kindness” as he spoke out for the first time since the shock news that the King has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Prince of Wales – who served as an air ambulance pilot in East Anglia – has been a patron of the organization since 2020.

In a speech, William, who has been keen to focus on his father’s news in recent days, told his audience: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to also say thank you for the kind words of support extended to Catherine. and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a lot to all of us.

‘It is fair to say that the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d join an air ambulance service to get away from it all!’

There was also a jab at Cruise, known for his daring high-flying movie stunts, as the royal said: ‘Here in London the current planes have done a splendid job. But our capital needs a new fleet.

‘And we are against time. The clue is actually in the name of the profession. By September we need the two new red birds – equipped with the latest equipment such as night vision goggles – in our skies.

“I must also take this opportunity to mention my – our – fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, thank you so much for supporting us tonight.

“And if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing any of the new helicopters for the next Mission: Impossible, that would be appreciated.

“We’ve all seen on our screens that – how should I put it – you seem to have a different view of ‘normal wear and tear’ than the rest of us.

“It’s not the kind that polishes, that’s for sure.”

However, it was only a brief moment in the spotlight for William, who will now return to Windsor to care for his family with the King’s blessing.

The prince cleared his diary after the Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital on January 16 for what was only described as an ‘abdominal operation’. She had to stay in hospital for two weeks and will not resume her public duties until after Easter.

It is unlikely that the heir to the throne will now appear in public for at least another ten days.