The royals will allegedly appear in the forthcoming Star Wars movie, following in the footsteps of the current Bond, Daniel Craig

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

British Empire strikes back as Princes William and Harry visit Star Wars set – in pictures Read more

Princes William and Harry are to appear as stormtroopers in the next Star Wars movie, according to the Mail on Sunday.



The royals visited the Pinewood Studios set of Star Wars: Episode VIII last week, where they met director Rian Johnson, stars Mark Hamill and Daisy Ridley and crew members, and were photographed duelling with lightsabers. They reportedly also filmed minor roles in the new instalment.

“The princes dressed up in full stormtrooper gear and filmed a scene in which Rey and Finn infiltrate a secret base,” a source told the newspaper. “The rebel characters are in a lift with Benicio del Toro’s character when a group of stormtroopers enter – two of whom are William and Harry.”

They will not be the first well-known figures to appear incognito as masked stormtroopers. Daniel Craig was a First Order grunt in The Force Awakens. The current James Bond, who was filming Spectre at Pinewood during the shoot for JJ Abrams’ movie, had initially denied reports of a cameo.

Johnson’s film, which is rumoured to have the working title of Star Wars: Echoes of the Dark Side, is due in cinemas December 2017. Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Ridley (Rey) will be joined by fellow The Force Awakens co-stars John Boyega (Finn), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata) and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), and newcomers Del Toro and Laura Dern.