I may be a film fan, but I must admit I haven't waited in the cold for hours to catch a glimpse of the stars on the red carpet at many movie premieres.

Even so, the prospect of joining the CNN team at the premiere of new movie about the early life of Britain's famous Queen Victoria, "The Young Victoria" offered the unexpected and interesting chance to see just how different things are from the other side of the fence.

'The Young Victoria' stars Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend at the UK premiere.

The event in Leicester Square, the traditional home of London film premieres, promised to be a glamorous affair at which stars and royalty would mingle on the red carpet.

As we arrived to take our places in the rather pejoratively named "press pen," the famous red carpet was being replaced by a rich royal purple carpet and the classical film score booming from speakers around the square added to the regal atmosphere.

The stars of the film - which chronicles Princess Victoria's romance with the young Albert and the turbulent years of her ascension to the throne of what was world’s most powerful nation - started to arrive just before 6p.m.

Emily Blunt who plays Victoria, Rupert Friend, the dashing Prince Albert and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson were all greeted with screams of appreciation from the crowds. "Rupert! Rupert!" and "Emily! Emily over here!!" shouted fans, almost drowning out the background music.

The Duchess of York, who was wearing a royal purple Vivienne Westwood dress, shares producing credits with royalty from the film world such as Martin Scorsese and Graham King (who teamed up on the multi-Oscar-winning film “The Departed”).

“You become a pest, but for 15 years I waited to do it." she told CNN. "For the last five years, I kept going to Graham King, saying 'Graham make my movie, make my movie, make my movie, and it’s pretty extraordinary that he did it for me.”

The idea was referred to Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes who produced a script which delighted producers King and Scorsese. It also caught the eye of actress Emily Blunt, who told CNN:

"[Victoria] was so passionate and rebellious. I was excited to see her in a different light."

When it came to casting the lead role, King says Blunt gave him little choice, refusing to leave his office until he agreed to make her his Victoria. We put this to Emily, who laughed: "I think he might be overselling it a bit, I certainly wasn’t down on my knees, I mean, I guess emotionally I was because I knew I’d probably kick up a stink if someone else played it because it’s one of those parts, and I rarely make a plea like that for a part and I really did want this one."

Co-star Rupert Friend says the experience on set was a positive one and that was mainly down to Blunt.

"I can't pretend that it was a hardship! Emily sets a tone. She was the lead in the film and she does a fantastic job. I have been a fan for a long, long time and she really hit the tone that we were gonna work hard and play hard and that was her mantra really."

Among the last to walk the carpet were the Duchess of York’s daughters. Princess Beatrice, who features in a non speaking role as a lady-in-waiting, arrived wearing a toga-style blue dress with her younger sister Eugenie in tow.

I had imagined a frenzy of camera crews and journalists shouting each other down and shoving for the best spot but was surprised at the calm camaraderie as colleagues from rival networks shared jokes and clutched cups of coffee to keep their hands warm in the chilly London evening.

It was only when the last guests had been ushered into the mezzanine and we began to pack up our equipment that I realized my hands were numb from cold.

I also had a new found respect for the fans who wait so patiently in the freezing cold for hours to catch a glimpse of their favourite stars.

Do you have a memorable story from a film premiere?