Tom Cruise sent new parents Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt a congratulations card bizarrely praising them for "following in his footsteps".

The 'Mission: Impossible III' star - who celebrated the birth of his daughter, Suri, in April - sent the happy couple a card with the message, "Congratulations! You're doing a fine job following in my footsteps!" written inside.

Tom - who became friends with Brad when the pair starred in 'Interview with the Vampire' - also sent Angelina and the 'Troy' actor's daughter, Shilou Nouvel, a designer Gund teddy bear.

A source told Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "Tom and Brad have a friendly rivalry since acting together. The card was taken in good spirits."

It was reported that Brad and?Angelina left Namibia with their newly-born daughter.