Bond returns with licence to thrill in 'Spectre'

James Bond has a licence to thrill once more in new film "Spectre", which premieres Monday at a glittering event expected to be attended by members of Britain's royal family.

Prince William, his wife Kate and brother Prince Harry are among guests due at the opening night for the 24th outing of the Martini-quaffing spy.

Broadly praised by critics, the film is directed by Sam Mendes and sees Daniel Craig play suave MI6 spy 007 for a fourth time.

The film's title is the acronym for the Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion -- a shadowy organisation bent on world domination which last made an appearance in 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever".

The organisation's members include classic Bond villains Dr. No and Ernst Stavro Blofeld, but the group disappeared from the films for decades due to a legal dispute that was only resolved two years ago.

"One of the most exciting parts of this movie is that we've got the chance to use that organisation and all that that brings with it," Craig told film website ScreenSlam.

Britain's Guardian and Telegraph newspapers gave Spectre a maximum five stars, the latter praising the film's "swaggering show of confidence".

However, the Financial Times gave it only two stars and said the film was attempting to alter the winning formula of 2012's "Skyfall" while "clearly being thrown into panic at the thought".