World premiere of final Harry Potter film

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

London was awash with loyal fans once again.

Only today they were not there for Prince William, but Harry Potter.

Thousands of fans -- sporting sorcerer's capes and round-rimmed glasses or the red and yellow or green and black colors of their favorite wizard team -- camped out on the streets of London to secure a prime spot for the world premier of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," the last film in the series.

Many were teenagers who grew up reading the books by J.K. Rowling that chronicle the adventures of boy wizard Potter and his pals from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. There were those who belonged to the next generation of readers who are just discovering the Potterverse and even a few who traveled overseas to attend the event, including a group of Mexican fans who held aloft their national flag and a banner praising J.K. Rowling.

Prior to the red carpet event for the world premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," members of the cast posed for shots at St. Pancras Renassance Hotel in central London.  

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Shown here, from left, back row, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, Domhnall Gleeson, Matthew Lewis, and front row, Evanna Lynch, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Bonnie Wright.

Then after a long wait for fans the red carpet moment arrived!

British actress Emma Watson, who wore a beautiful gown, made a point to stop and greet fans, anxious for autographs and candid shots.

AP Photos/Joel Ryan

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Wearing a Fascinator headpiece and cool shades was Helena Bonham Carter, who plays Bellatrix Lestrange.

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Fans gave British actor Rupert Grint, who plays Ronald Weasley, a thumbs up.

AP Photos/Joel Ryan

Daniel Radcliffe, who flew in from New York City, where he performed in his hit Broadway play, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying the night before arrived in Trafalgar Square, wearing a custom Simon Spurr, three-piece gray sharkskin suit. Radcliffe told reporters he's hoping the final film earns Alan Rickman an Oscar nomination.

Rickman, shown at left, arriving at the premiere, plays the always serious, Severus Snape.

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

There were tears and cheers for British author J.K. Rowling, second left, who joined actors, left to right, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. Harry Potter's saga is ending, but his magic spell remains.

The film will be shown in three cinemas nearby Leicester Square, where guests will be transported between the squares through a mock-up of the magical Diagon Alley, a fictional London street in the films. MTV reported earlier today that early reviews of the final installment are positive across the board. That included a whopping 100 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The film opens in the United States July 15.

HARRY POTTER FANS

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This Sunday’s edition of The Macomb Daily, Daily Tribune and Oakland Press will feature several pages dedicated to Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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The stories we love the best do live in us forever -- J.K. Rowling