Tom Cruise met fans at the blockbuster's premiere in Rome Cruise on new baby

The star was in Rome on Monday for the world premiere, telling reporters he would fly straight back to be with fiancee Katie Holmes and daughter Suri.

But he later changed his mind, saying Holmes persuaded him to continue his European promotional tour.

"We discussed it. She said 'You know, things change,'" he said.

The London screening at the Odeon Leicester Square will be followed by a French premiere in Paris on Wednesday.

My daughter was just born, and I didn't want to leave her and her mother Tom Cruise

"I realise the fans are going to be there in London and Paris and, you know, everything is cool," he said. "So we're going to hit it. We're going to bang it."

The change of heart follows a surprise appearance at the press conference for the film in Rome.

He originally told reporters: "I'm going to be here for a few hours, and then I'm going to get on a plane and go back to Katie and Suri."

The Mission Impossible cast gathered in Rome for the premiere

"My mission impossible was to be here today. I didn't want to come. My daughter was just born, and I didn't want to leave her and her mother."

He later joined other cast and crew members to greet thousands of fans in the city's Piazza del Popolo.

'Warm welcome'

He told them: "I want to thank you for the warm welcome that you've given to my daughter Suri and my fiancee Katie, and I just love you all."

The actor said he would start planning his wedding to Holmes when he returns to the US.

"That stuff is actually going to happen in the next couple of weeks. We are going to decide where and when and how," Cruise said.

"Really whatever Kate wants, you know."

I change diapers all the time - I have to tell you I love it Tom Cruise

Suri was born in Los Angeles on 18 April and the couple said the name meant "princess" in Hebrew and "red rose" in Persian.

Her birth was "everything we wanted it to be and more", Cruise said, adding that "it was really very spiritual".

"I look at Kate and my admiration and love and respect for her, although I didn't think it could get any more, it became more. It was very beautiful."

He also revealed the "teamwork" the couple use to look after their new child.

"I changed her first," Cruise said. "I change diapers all the time. I have to tell you I love it.

"We have a whole system worked out. It's the B and B - she does the breast feeding and I do the burping and changing the diapers."