The film tells the powerful true story of an interracial marriage that shaped a nation and inspired the world. A UNITED KINGDOM had its world premiere at Toronto Film Festival followed by the opening Gala of BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday (5th October) ahead of its UK release in November. 

This incredible true story of Seretse Khama, King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, the London office worker he married in 1948 in the face of fierce opposition from their families and the British and South African governments.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Jack Davenport attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jack Davenport

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Jack Lowden attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jack Lowden

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Jessica Oyelowo and David Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jessica Oyelowo; David Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Actor Arnold Oceng attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Arnold Oceng

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Actor David Oyelowo (R) and his wife, fellow actress Jessica Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Oyelowo; Jessica Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Actor David Oyelowo (R) and his wife, fellow actress Jessica Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Oyelowo; Jessica Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Tom Felton attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Felton

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Charlotte Hope attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charlotte Hope

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Rick McCallum attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick McCallum

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Gugu Mbatha-Raw attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gugu Mbatha-Raw

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Actor David Oyelowo (R) and his wife, fellow actress Jessica Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Oyelowo; Jessica Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Terry Pheto attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terry Pheto

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: (L to R) Tom Felton, Rick McCallum, Terry Pheto, Amma Asante, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Oyelowo and Arnold Oceng attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Felton; Rick McCallum; Terry Pheto; Amma Asante; David Oyelowo; Rosamund Pike; Jack Davenport; Laura Carmichael; Jessica Oyelowo; Arnold Oceng

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: (L to R) Tom Felton, Rick McCallum, Terry Pheto, Amma Asante, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Oyelowo and Arnold Oceng attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Felton; Rick McCallum; Terry Pheto; Amma Asante; David Oyelowo; Rosamund Pike; Jack Davenport; Laura Carmichael; Jessica Oyelowo; Arnold Oceng

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: (L to R) Guest, guest, Clare Stewart, Rick McCallum, Terry Pheto, Amma Asante, David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Oyelowo, Arnold Oceng, Amanda Nevill and guest attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Clare Stewart; Rick McCallum; Terry Pheto; Amma Asante; David Oyelowo; Rosamund Pike; Jack Davenport; Laura Carmichael; Jessica Oyelowo; Arnold Oceng; Amanda Nevill

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Oyelowo; Rosamund Pike

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Rosamund Pike attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rosamund Pike

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Terry Pheto, Rosamund Pike, Amma Asante, Laura Carmichael and Jessica Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terry Pheto; Rosamund Pike; Amma Asante; Laura Carmichael; Jessica Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Rosamund Pike, Amma Asante and David Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rosamund Pike; Amma Asante; David Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Arnold Oceng attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Arnold Oceng

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Arnold Oceng attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Arnold Oceng

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Rosamund Pike attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rosamund Pike

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Rosamund Pike attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rosamund Pike

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Actor David Oyelowo (R) and his wife, fellow actress Jessica Oyelowo attend the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Oyelowo; Jessica Oyelowo

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 05: Gugu Mbatha-Raw attends the ‘A United Kingdom’ Opening Night Gala screening during the 60th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Gugu Mbatha-Raw

A UNITED KINGDOM is directed by Asante (Belle) from a screenplay by Guy Hibbert (Eye in the Sky), based on the book Colour Bar by Susan Williams. The cast is led by David Oyelowo (Selma) as Seretse Khama, with Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) playing his future wife Ruth Williams. Other cast includes Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean), Terry Pheto (Mandela), Tom Felton (Harry Potter), Arnold Oceng (Adulthood), Jack Lowden (’71) and Laura Carmichael (Downton Abbey).

A UNITED KINGDOM opens on 25 November 2016