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Harry Potter: Stars arrive for world premiere Harry Potter premiere: Stars and fans bid tearful goodbye
(about 6 hours later)
Thousands of Harry Potter fans and stars are in London's Trafalgar Square ahead of the world premiere of the final film in the series. By Tim Masters Entertainment correspondent, BBC News
Hundreds are holding posters, some boasting of journeys from China and Argentina to see the cast, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. A tearful JK Rowling said "thank you" to thousands of Harry Potter fans who packed London's Trafalgar Square on Thursday at the world premiere of the final film.
Their co-star Rupert Grint was one of the first stars to grace the red carpet. Despite torrential rain earlier, the sun shone down as stars of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II spent more than three hours signing autographs.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part II is released on 15 July. Daniel Radcliffe, who has played the boy wizard since he was 11, told fans the films would be with them "for the rest of their lives".
The entire series has so far earned more than £4 billion worldwide. Speaking from a stage next to Nelson's column, Potter creator Rowling thanked the actors for "the amazing things they did for my favourite characters".
Many of the 8,000 fans, young and old, have been staking out their spot beside the enormous red carpet since Monday. Turning to the fans, she said: "Thank you for queuing up for the books for all those years, for camping out in a wet Trafalgar Square."
The carpet - which stretches three-quarters of a mile (1.2km) from Trafalgar Square to Leicester Square where the film will be screened - is believed to be longest in the world. Fans back chanted "Thank you!" and Rowling said: "No, no, I'm already crying."
Radcliffe, who had earlier flown in from New York, said that Harry's story would never end.
"Each and every person, not just here in this square but around the world who have watched these films for the last 10 years, they will always carry the films with them for the rest of their lives," he told fans.
Michael Gambon, who plays wizard Dumbledore, told the BBC he was sad that it was all over and expressed "astonishment" at the reception.
Rupert Grint, who plays Ron Weasley, thanked the screaming fans saying making the films had been "the best part of my life".
Grint and co-star Emma Watson spent hours on the red carpet signing autographs.
And Clemence Poesy, who plays Fleur Delacour, said: "I'm overwhelmed by it all."
Critical praise
Fans from across the UK, and as far as China and Argentina, were in Trafalgar Square to see the cast. Many had been been staking out their spot beside the enormous red carpet since Monday.
As the stars walked the carpet, fans thrust out copies of the final Potter book to be signed.
Many were dressed in Hogwarts robes and biore lightning flashes on their foreheads.
Others waved placards reading "We're all potty about Potter", "Potter 'til I die" and "Harry Potter is over. See you in therapy".
Other cast members on the red carpet included Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy), and Julie Walters (Molly Weasley).
The carpet - which stretched three-quarters of a mile (1.2km) from Trafalgar Square to Leicester Square where the film was screened - is believed to be longest in the world.
Leicester Square, where premieres traditionally take place, is currently undergoing extensive renovation.Leicester Square, where premieres traditionally take place, is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
'Disorganised' The entire Potter film series has so far earned more than £4 billion worldwide.
On Thursday morning, hundreds of rain-lashed fans huddled under umbrellas around a large stage and screen that has been erected in the centre of Trafalgar Square. It has been 10 years since the first movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which made stars of its young cast, Radcliffe, Watson and Grint.
Nearby, hundreds of others - many dressed in Hogwarts robes - sought shelter from the heavy rain.
But weather conditions later improved for the fans and stars, with some sunshine bathing Trafalgar Square.
Some fans were unhappy to have missed out on wristbands giving closer access to the stars.
"It seems a bit disorganised," said Catherine, 15, from Lancashire, who has been sleeping in the square for two nights with four schoolfriends. "All we want is a glimpse of one of them - that would make us happy."
Nearby, producers have recreated Diagon Alley, the fictional street where fledgling wizards buy their magical wares.
It has been ten years since the first movie in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which made stars of its young cast, Radcliffe, Watson and Rupert Grint - who plays Harry's sidekick Ron Weasley.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Grint said: "Back then I was so fearless and on such a high and nothing fazed me.
"A few years down the line you're a bit more self-conscious - it's that awkward stage you go though when you're a teenager."
The 22-year-old actor, who has been nominated for several awards for his performances through the years, added: "This is the biggest and most important thing I'm ever going to be involved with.
"It's defined who I am."
Critics have so far praised the seventh film, with The Sun newspaper saying "the final instalment is still brimming with the old Potter magic".Critics have so far praised the seventh film, with The Sun newspaper saying "the final instalment is still brimming with the old Potter magic".
The London Evening Standard saved its highest praise for the film's technical achievement, calling the special effects "the real magic, and perhaps our last authentic industry".The London Evening Standard saved its highest praise for the film's technical achievement, calling the special effects "the real magic, and perhaps our last authentic industry".
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part II is released on 15 July.