We’ll always have Paris: Cruise to tie knot

FOR sale: hundreds of pairs of high heels. Yesterday morning after a whirlwind romance, pint-sized sex symbol Tom Cruise stood atop the Eiffel Tower, looked up at girlfriend Katie Holmes, and popped the question.

Recently divorced from Nicole Kidman - who famously remarked afterwards that at least now she could wear high heels again - Cruise, 42, wasted no time in proposing to Holmes, 26, after just a few months dating.

Cruise, speaking at a Paris news conference with Holmes, confirmed: “Yes, I proposed to her.”

The couple often shared smiles as Cruise turned to look at her, with a massive diamond ring on her finger.

“It was early this morning at the Eiffel Tower, so I haven’t slept at all,” he said. “Today is a magnificent day for me, I’m engaged to a magnificent woman.”

Asked why he chose the famed Paris landmark, he said: “I’ve never been to the Eiffel Tower. It’s Paris, it’s a beautiful city, it’s very romantic.”

Cruise was in Paris to promote the French release of the Steven Spielberg film War of the Worlds next month. He and Holmes, who yesterday towered several inches over the 5' 7'' Cruise, went public with their romantic relationship in April.

The two have faced repeated rumours of marriage. The relationship started after Cruise split from actress Penelope Cruz, and Holmes and actor Chris Klein called off their longstanding engagement.

At the London premiere of her new film Batman Begins, Holmes couldn’t stop gushing about her new love.

“Being in love with Tom is so exhilarating. He’s amazing and I love him very, very much,” she said.

“We are so happy and being with him is wonderful.”

The Dawson’s Creek actress recently converted to Scientology for Cruise. The actress was raised a Catholic, but after just six weeks of dating Cruise she said she was taking up his religion.

Scientology is based on the teachings of sci-fi writer L Ron Hubbard and critics have dismissed it as a cult. Cruise is a devoted follower - he even erected a Scientology tent on the set of his latest film.

Cruise, who kept his private life under wraps where ex-wife Nicole Kidman and former girlfriend Penelope Cruz were concerned, astonished observers with his declarations of love for Holmes.

The Top Gun star made a bizarre appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, jumping up and down on the sofa and saying the relationship was “beyond cool”.

Cruise has dismissed speculation that their relationship is a stunt to promote their new movies.