Kate Middleton, Prince William privately met Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce before wedding: Report
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Prince William and Kate Middleton skipped singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce's Madison Square Garden wedding on Friday, July 3, but reportedly met the couple privately before the ceremony.
Kelce later hinted at the private meeting during a surprise episode of the 'New Heights' podcast featuring Prince William, where the two also looked back on their previous encounter at Swift's 'Eras Tour' stop in London and reflected on the memorable experience.
Prince William privately met Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce
The royal couple secretly met Swift and Kelce before the wedding, with People reporting that the private gathering likely took place when they were in London in May.
"I got the chance to see you not too long ago," Kelce told William, adding, "[I] invited you on the show because we were talking a little Aston Villa soccer, some excitement about the World Cup."
However, he did not share any additional details about the interaction. The May meeting is believed to have been the first time Middleton met both Swift and Kelce. William had previously met Swift at a 2013 charity gala, where the two made headlines after joining singer Jon Bon Jovi on stage.
More than a decade later, Swift reunited with William backstage during her 'Eras Tour' in London, posing for photos with the Prince of Wales as well as his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Kelce also met William and the royal children during the June 2024 London concert. Although the royal couple ultimately did not attend Swift and Kelce's Madison Square Garden wedding, the future king had previously suggested the possibility.
During a May interview on 'Heart Breakfast,' William responded to questions about the wedding by saying, "I have no comment," before adding, "I'm hoping, and I'm sure there might be an invitation around, but we'll see."
Travis Kelce reflects on meeting Prince William
The latest 'New Heights' episode also revisited Kelce's first meeting with Prince William and his children at Wembley Stadium in June 2024.
He recalled being unsure about royal etiquette, saying, "I wasn't sure if I was supposed to bow to them, curtsy, just be an American idiot and shake their hands, like, 'Sup, dude.' I wanted to be polite."
He added, "That was honestly one of the coolest moments ever, was meeting you and the little ones that day. Me and Jason joke about it all the time. We were so nervous to meet you guys and the royal family. And Jason has this running joke where he didn't know what to do with his beer."
The conversation later shifted to fatherhood, with William, who shares three children with Middleton, congratulating Jason Kelce on being the father of four daughters.
"Congratulations! Having four daughters. I don't know how you do that," William said.
Jason then jokingly asked him which he considered the more iconic Wembley Stadium moment: "Travis Kelce scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in 2015 or appearing as a surprise backup dancer during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour."
William chose the dance performance, prompting Travis to respond, "Definitely a very proud moment of my life, for sure."
