Jon Snow and Ygritte have been done for years on Game of Thrones – an early but noble TV death will do that – but former screen loves and real-life married couple Kit Harington and Rose Leslie were inseparable at the show’s season eight premiere in New York.

The pair beamed and held hands on the red carpet, before hitting the Radio City Music Hall (transformed with ice, lights and a giant iron throne) for the HBO behemoth’s final epic party on Wednesday night (US time).

Almost the whole Game of Thrones cast, past and present, was centre stage – Ned Stark! Oberyn Martell! Joffrey! – taking a bow for A-list guests, who scored free popcorn and hologram tickets featuring that prized throne.

In character as Stark sisters Arya and Sansa, Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner dredged up Littlefinger’s fate to remind everyone not to take photos or spill episode details: “Remember what happened to the last person that f—ed with us”.

Despite his grand entrance with Leslie, Harington had to bail early. He had Saturday Night Live hosting duties to attend to.

A notable absentee? A “gutted” and “heartbroken” Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister) who was sick but posted her love to her castmates on Instagram: “Ride forth into the night and create mayhem. Love you beauties.”

If the premiere party is anything to go by, fans can expect to have their minds blown by the final season.

Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell) was slinky in one-shouldered black worthy of a master plotter, sticky ending notwithstanding.

Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth) was a total queen in a flowing floral dress, hanging out with on-screen possible soulmate Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister.)

Turner, whose date was musician fiance Joe Jonas (in an unfeasibly tight pant), went for a spangled black mini with dramatic smoky eye.

Williams slayed with lilac hair and a fabulous bandeau gown with cascading embellished tiers.

Guy Pearce’s partner Carice van Houten (Melisandre) was less red queen, more white hot in a slinky dress that was both sexy and ladylike.

Emilia Clarke (Daenerys) looked like she was having the best time, lighting up the red carpet with a mega watt smile (gorgeous dark lip) and floaty gun metal dress.

Peter Dinklage (Tyrion) and wife Erica Schmidt stuck close before the show. Inside the party Dinklage laughed over drinks with co-stars including Clarke and Jason Momoa (Khal Drogo), whose wife Lisa Bonet looked as bored as ever.

Pedro Pascal (Oberyn) was the party’s loveable pest, pretending to choke screen nemesis Hafthor Julius Bjornsson (The Mountain) and smooching up to GoT love Indira Varma (Ellaria Sand).

Hannah Murray (Gilly) was a long way from her Westeros woollen garb in sunshine yellow.

Nathalie Emmanuel (Missandei) changed up her character’s sculptural fashion style for strapless froufrou tangerine with sheer panels.

With wife Gry Molvaer Hivju, Kristofer Hivju (Tormund Giantsbane) looked less fierce warrior and right hand man, more super-fun party guy.

Sean Bean (Ned Stark) kept his head all night.

Name your poison! Jack Gleeson (Joffrey), Harington, Turner and Jonas.

Rory McCann (The Hound) and Dormer swapped war stories at the after party, which featured signature cocktails and red-themed decorations.

Girl power: Emmanuel, Clarke and Turner stuck close, taking selfies.

And so winter is finally almost here. Or as HBO put it to guests before the premiere, “The beginning of the end is here”.