Prince William Jokes He Tried to Push Travis Kelce Out of Viral Taylor Swift Selfie

Prince William has revealed the funny story behind his now-famous selfie with Taylor Swift, admitting that he tried to move Travis Kelce out of the picture without realising just how significant the moment was for the couple.

The Prince of Wales shared the anecdote during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, looking back on his visit to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in London in 2024. William attended the concert with his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and the evening produced a photograph that quickly attracted attention online.

The selfie featured William, his two children, Swift and her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce. At the time, the picture carried an extra layer of significance: it was the first time Swift and Kelce had appeared together in a photo on Instagram, effectively making their relationship official on the platform.

However, William admitted that he had no idea how important the photograph would become.

Prince William’s Hilarious Explanation for the Selfie

During his conversation with Graham Norton, the prince was asked whether he had understood the significance of the backstage photograph when it was taken.

William confessed that he had only recently come to appreciate what the moment meant. He then revealed that his behaviour during the photo session had been rather different from what fans might have expected.

“I wasn’t until recently. I hadn’t appreciated the significance — and actually, I was trying to move him out of the photo,” he explained.

The prince continued, joking that Kelce repeatedly found his way back into the frame, leaving him puzzled.

“But Travis kept coming back in, and I couldn’t work out why he kept coming back in,” William said.

He then delivered the punchline, explaining that he had been trying to get the football star out of the shot altogether.

“I was trying to move him out so it was just me and Taylor and the children.”

William’s light-hearted confession offered a new perspective on a photograph that had already become a memorable moment for Swift’s fans and royal watchers alike.

The Instagram Post That Made Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Official

Swift shared the photograph on Instagram in June 2024, posting it to mark William’s birthday and celebrate the start of her London shows.

“Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start🤝,” she wrote alongside the image.

The post attracted particular attention because it marked the first time Swift and Kelce had appeared together in a photograph on Instagram. The couple had begun dating in the summer of 2023, but they had not previously shared a picture of themselves together on the platform.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also shared a separate photograph from the backstage encounter on their official Instagram account. In that image, William posed with his children and Swift, without Kelce appearing in the frame.

Their caption read: “Thank you @taylorswift for a great evening! #LondonTSTheErastour.”

The images offered fans a glimpse of the royal family’s evening at one of the biggest music events of the year, while Swift’s post became a notable moment in her relationship with Kelce.

Swift and Kelce are now married, making the story behind their early Instagram appearance an even more memorable part of their relationship history.

Prince William Has a History With Taylor Swift

William’s encounter with Swift in 2024 was not their first meeting.

Back in 2013, the prince joined the singer and rock star Jon Bon Jovi on stage at a charity gala held at Kensington Palace. The unlikely trio performed Bon Jovi’s hit song Livin’ on a Prayer in front of guests, creating an unexpected musical moment for the royal event.

More than a decade later, William’s appearance alongside Swift at the Eras Tour brought the pair together again, this time with his children joining him for the occasion.

The prince has also crossed paths with Kelce beyond the now-famous selfie. He made a surprise appearance on the NFL star’s podcast, New Heights, which Kelce hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce.

Reflecting on his encounter with the royals, Travis Kelce joked about the etiquette involved in meeting members of the Royal Family, wondering whether he was expected to bow or curtsy.

He described the experience as a little surreal and praised the royals as “an absolute delight.”

William’s latest anecdote adds another amusing detail to the story of the 2024 selfie. What he initially regarded as a simple photo opportunity turned out to be a significant moment for Swift and Kelce — even if the prince’s main concern at the time was apparently getting everyone into the picture he wanted.