Prince William has surprised US reality TV audiences with an unexpected appearance on Dancing with the Stars, showing support for his Australian friend Robert Irwin. The Prince of Wales appeared via video chat with Irwin and his dance partner Witney Carson ahead of their latest performance, filmed while William was in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize awards.
During the call, William affectionately called Irwin “twinkle toes” and said, “I need you down here!” He also told the pair, “You guys have got a serious good chance of winning … best of luck on the show.” After the call, a visibly shocked Carson said she “can’t believe he just said my name,” while Irwin joked they’d now better “not mess this up.”
Irwin, a conservationist and wildlife ambassador, served as a celebrity ambassador for the 2024 Earthshot Prize and has maintained a close friendship with William. He was scheduled to attend this year’s event but had to cancel due to his Dancing with the Stars commitments.
This is not the first time William has publicly supported Irwin. In June, he surprised Irwin with a voice note during a BBC Radio 2 appearance, praising him as a “brilliant ambassador for the Earthshot Prize.” During their trip to South Africa last year, William also appeared in a joint Instagram video with Irwin, where they discussed favorite African animals—William chose the cheetah, while Irwin preferred chameleons.
