The latest Bond epic No Time to Die had its world premiere in London on Tuesday to great critical acclaim and went on to gross $6.5 million on its opening day – September 30 – in the UK and Ireland.

In Monaco on Wednesday, the film was shown to an audience of fans who paid 2,500 euros for a glitzy gala Bond evening and a 007 goody bag, with proceeds going to The Princess Grace Foundation (USA).

The movie’s American director, Cary Joji Fukunaga, arrived in an Aston Martin DB5, alongside HSH Prince Albert, and then Sharon Stone made an entrance in a period Rolls-Royce.

Fukunaga, it should be noted, is himself a graduate of the Princess Grace Academy, having benefited from a scholarship that helped launch an already-distinguished career that has taken him to the very top.

Part of the evening at Salle Garnier was a six-minute video tribute to former Bond man Sir Roger Moore, who after his own career made Monaco his home.

Monaco’s James Bond history goes back much further. The Casino featured in the James Bond films Never Say Never Again (1983) and GoldenEye (1995).

PHOTO: Christian Moore Bruno Bebert/Bestimage