Wet weather failed to dampen spirits as Daniel Craig, dressed in an eye-catching pink velvet dinner jacket, and co-stars including Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch and Lea Seydoux reunited for the hotly anticipated movie.

Craig told reporters how relieved he was that the film was finally making its way to cinemas.

"A year ago, this was just a dream. It didn't look like we'd get here. But we have and I'm just happy that we're here and we can celebrate with everybody," he said.

"It's such a great relief. It was so important to me to come and celebrate with all the other cast and crew and to get it into the cinemas and we're here."

Craig, 53, has played the suave secret agent in five movies, beginning with Casino Royale in 2006.

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The film marks his final outing as Bond, something he says he is "Really good about".

As for who would be his successor, he simply quipped: "Not my problem."

Seydoux echoed the sense of relief.

"It's been such a crazy time for all of us. And now to celebrate with this film, to reunite, it's great. I'm really happy," she said.

The film, the 25th in the series, was due to be released in April 2020 but has suffered multiple delays because of the pandemic.

Costing an estimated $200 million to produce, No Time To Die sees Bond come out of retirement in Jamaica to help track down a new villain.

"The most daunting part was just coming up with a good story," director Cary Joji Fukunaga said.

"I think of it as a last chapter of this one book where we first met Daniel in Casino Royale and it's all part of the same story."

Healthcare workers and members of Britain's armed forces were among those invited to the premiere in thanks for their work during the pandemic.

Also at the premiere were Britain's Prince Charles and his son Prince William and their wives.

Former Bond actress Judi Dench and Grammy Award winner Billie Eilish, who sings the film's theme tune, also attended.

"I know the world is expecting this film," Seydoux said.

"We gave everything to this film and I hope people will love it."

Sources | AP / Reuters