Mandela's daughters left cinema after being told their father was dead just moments before Royal premiere attended by Kate and William started. Then gasps and silence when producer announced it at end of the film



Zindzi and Zenani Mandela spoke on red carpet before film about how she was 'hoping to see more' of her father

She was told moments later that 95-year-old had died peacefully at home, prompting screams in the auditorium

Appeared jovial before screening but later seemed overcome, suggesting she was told father was close to death



Duke and Duchess of Cambridge informed of his death discreetly by an aide shortly before the end of the film

Rest of audience told after movie when film's producer, Anant Singh, got up on stage to announce the 'sad news'

The Queen today expressed her shock at Mr Mandela's death coinciding with the premiere of the movie




They had smiled and posed for photographs on the red carpet and then enjoyed an animated conversation with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

And if Zindzi and Zenani Mandela had any idea that their father's long life was drawing to a close, they did not betray it for a minute.

Then, in a single instance, everything changed. As they were about to watch the London premiere of his incredible story, the sisters were apparently told that the 95-year-old had died peacefully at home after months of illness.



Tearful and flustered, they tried to compose themselves. The two women were said to have left the cinema immediately, but when asked if they wanted the film - Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom - to continue, they said yes.



It was an extraordinary premiere. Few in the Odeon auditorium in Leicester Square knew what had happened and settled down to enjoy an evening celebrating one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century.



The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were informed of his death discreetly by an aide shortly before the end of the movie.

The Queen today expressed her shock at the timing of Mr Mandela's death, saying: 'It was extraordinary because William and Catherine were at the film.

'They were clapping like mad and somebody came on and said, "can you just listen please, we have just heard he has died". It is amazing isn’t it. During the first night of his film.'



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The Duchess of Cambridge meets Nelson Mandela's daughters Zenani (left) and Zindzi at the Royal Premiere of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom in London shortly before they learned of her father's death

The death of former South African president Nelson Mandela was announced during the UK premiere of a film about his life

Starring British actor Idris Elba, 'Mandela' follows the iconic anti-apartheid leader’s extraordinary life from childhood through to his 27-year imprisonment on Robben Island and, finally, his inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1994. The film itself, which has been 16 years in the making, has received mixed reviews from critics, but Elba, who is best known for his role as a detective chief inspector in the hit TV series Luther, has been praised as ‘towering’ and ‘Oscar-worthy’.

Speaking on the red carpet last night he told Mail Online: 'Everyone knows who Mandela is, everyone has an idea of what he sounds and looks like. I worked really hard to pull in all the elements, from the sound of his voice to the way he walks.

'I don't look anything like him but it was really important the audience got a sense of who Mandela is because the likelihood is that we will never meet him in person. 'For somone who doesn't look like Mandela you have got to work harder to get the audience in there.

'I think he [Mandela] has seen parts of the film but ultimately it's about his life, he's been there, he's done it - so he might not even need to see it.

'Tonight is extra special because this is my country and when the royals come out to watch a film it's. a big deal. I feel very proud that it's my film, really proud.'