Prince William Leaves Fans Gasping with Surprise ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Cameo
Royal watchers were left utterly stunned when Prince William made an unexpected video appearance on the American television show Dancing with the Stars on Tuesday evening.
The 43-year-old future king joined via video link to cheer on 21-year-old conservationist Robert Irwin, the son of the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin.
During the pre-recorded segment, William playfully nicknamed the young Australian contestant “twinkle toes” while offering heartfelt encouragement for his dancing journey.
The surprise cameo aired during a special episode celebrating Dancing with the Stars’ 20th anniversary on ABC, leaving viewers in awe and social media buzzing with excitement.
A professional dancer exclaimed, “I can’t believe he just said my name!”
Prince William used the video call to express his disappointment that Robert Irwin had missed the recent Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
“We’re missing you, Robert. Whilst your ‘twinkle toes’ are going off elsewhere, I need you down here,” he said, playfully chiding the young conservationist.
The Prince also addressed Robert’s professional dance partner, Witney Carson:
“Witney, you need to get him in as much glitter as you can. You guys have got a seriously good chance of winning it.”
Carson appeared visibly touched by the royal interaction, later exclaiming:
“I can’t believe he just said my name.”
Robert Irwin and Witney Carson Chat with Prince William
Social media erupted as viewers expressed their surprise at the royal cameo, with one fan joking,
“Prince William on #DWTS was not on my bingo card.”
Robert Irwin, who serves as a global ambassador for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize — an initiative launched by the Prince and The Royal Foundation to tackle urgent environmental challenges — had been scheduled to attend the awards ceremony in Brazil on November 5.
However, he remained in the United States to continue competing on Dancing with the Stars, making the Prince’s video appearance all the more timely and personal.
This marked the second time in recent months that William has reached out to support Mr Irwin.
Back in June, Prince William sent a voice message during Robert Irwin’s appearance on BBC Radio 2, praising him as a “brilliant ambassador for the Earthshot Prize.”
Following the royal interaction, Irwin took to the dance floor with partner Witney Carson for an emotional Foxtrot set to Leona Lewis’s “Footprints in the Sand.” The performance served as a touching tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin, who passed away in 2006, and earned the duo their highest scores of the series.
Prince William made a surprise appearance via video link on Dancing with the Stars, cheering on Robert Irwin and his partner, Witney Carson.
The judges rewarded the pair with a perfect score — Irwin’s first flawless result since joining the competition.
The achievement came during a special milestone episode celebrating the show’s 20th anniversary on American television.
Earlier in the segment, Irwin had jokingly asked William about his recent trip to Rio, referencing his own absence from the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony.