Steven Spielberg on War Horse premiere

8 January 2012 Last updated at 12:06 ET Help

Speaking at the UK premiere of his new blockbuster War Horse, director Steven Spielberg told the BBC that the film "encapsulates a timeless personal story of courage".

Sharing the limelight with the star of the film, a thoroughbred called Joey, Spielberg spoke of the difficulty in having an animal as a lead character.

"I've never had anything like it before - I had more control over ET," he joked.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are also guests at the premiere in London's Leicester Square, along with 600 serving and ex-serving military personnel and their families, and beneficiaries of military charities.

Film footage courtesy of Disney

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