Prince William Discusses Soccer, American Football, and Travis Kelce’s “Backup Dancer” Role for Taylor Swift on ‘New Heights’ Podcast

In a recent episode of the ‘New Heights’ podcast, hosted by NFL star Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce, Prince William made a surprise appearance. The episode aired just hours before Travis Kelce was set to marry Taylor Swift in what has been dubbed the “most anticipated wedding of the century” at Madison Square Garden in New York.

A Royal Conversation

During the podcast, the Kelce brothers engaged Prince William in a lighthearted discussion about memorable moments in sports. Jason Kelce posed a question regarding which event the prince considered more iconic: Travis catching a touchdown pass during a Kansas City Chiefs victory against the Detroit Lions in 2015 or his role as a “backup dancer” during Swift’s Eras Tour concert in 2024.

Prince William humorously declared, “Travis as a backup,” eliciting laughter from the hosts. Travis Kelce expressed pride in that moment, stating, “Definitely a very proud moment of my life for sure.” When William suggested that Travis should reprise his dancing role in the future, Travis responded, “Listen, if Tay’s gonna sign up for a tour, I’ll happily make sure that we bring [it] back to life.”

Meeting the Royals

Travis Kelce reminisced about a previous encounter with Prince William and his children, George and Charlotte, during Swift’s Eras Tour in London two years ago. He stated, “That was honestly one of the coolest moments ever was meeting you and the little ones, that day.” He added that he and Jason often joke about how nervous they were to meet the royal family, with Jason recalling a humorous moment about not knowing what to do with his beer.

Jason remarked, “You want to be respectful and know what the protocols are, but it was awesome, and you were fantastic. The kids were great. Princess Charlotte was still the highlight for me. I have four daughters as well.” In response, Prince William congratulated Jason on having four daughters, expressing his admiration for the challenge.

Soccer and American Football

The conversation also touched on soccer, known as football in most countries, and the upcoming World Cup. Prince William, who has been involved with the Football Association for two decades, shared that he developed a love for soccer not from his father, King Charles, who he humorously noted “hates football,” but from friends who took him to his first game.

William has held the patronage of the Football Association since taking over from the late Queen Elizabeth. He joked about his role, saying, “Just don’t mess up.” He expressed hope that the World Cup would eventually be hosted in England and mentioned his efforts to support that bid.

Regarding the United States hosting the World Cup, William praised the country’s organization, stating it has done a “fantastic” job. He noted that English fans might experience a culture shock due to the scale of American stadiums, saying, “The size of them is really going to be quite a shock for a lot of fans.”

Future Plans and American Football

Prince William indicated he would “definitely” attend the World Cup final if England were to reach that stage. Travis Kelce humorously noted he would likely be in Missouri for NFL training during that time. William jokingly offered to help Travis get out of training, saying, “Tell me who I need to write to, Travis; we’ll get you out of there.” Travis replied in jest, “Coach [Andy] Reid, listen, Prince William called. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

The discussion also highlighted the growing popularity of American football in England. Prince William acknowledged that while interest is increasing, there is still a need for better understanding of the sport’s rules. He quipped, “If we could understand the rules a bit more over here, that might help, because it is quite tactical.”

A Surprising Guest

After the episode, Travis and Jason expressed their astonishment at having Prince William as a guest. Travis remarked on their initial expectations for the podcast, stating, “When we started this thing, we thought we were gonna be talking to like, fat offensive linemen, not kings, queens, princes of other nations. Yeah, this is pretty wild.”

As Travis Kelce prepares for his wedding to Taylor Swift, plans are underway for a grand celebration at Madison Square Garden. Guests were seen arriving for a rehearsal dinner ahead of the main event.

Prince William had previously appeared on a British morning show, where he was asked about receiving an invitation to the wedding. He humorously responded, “No comment,” but expressed hope that there might be one forthcoming. However, reports indicate that he will not be attending the wedding.

For more details, visit Hollywood Reporter.

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Published on 2026-07-03 21:43:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk