How Prince William told Ronnie Wood he'd only see the Rolling Stones if they brought Taylor Swift out seven months before going to Eras tour

After a weekend attending the Eras tour, Prince William has cemented his status as a committed Swiftie.

And it seems the heir to the throne’s dreams have come true – as nine months ago he told Ronnie Wood that he’d only see The Rolling Stones if they brought out Taylor Swift.

On Friday night Prince William took his children Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see the Blank Space singer perform at Wembley Stadium.

The royals broke the internet by taking a selfie with Taylor and her boyfriend Travis Kelce and went viral again after he was spotted ‘dad dancing’ in the audience to Shake It Off.

But it’s perhaps written in the stars, as in November last year William, 42, and Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood, 77, met in London at the Tusk Conservation Awards which recognises leading wildlife pioneers.

Prince William said he’d only attend a Rolling Stones concert if they ‘brought out Taylor Swift’, according to band member Ronnie Wood (pictured at the Tusk Awards in 2023)

Nine months after William’s comments, he has attended the Eras Tour and broken the internet with a selfie with Taylor Swift, her boyfriend Travis Kelce, Prince George and Princess Charlotte

Both men are long-term supporters of the event’s organisers, Africa-based charity Tusk Trust.

After chatting with the future king, Wood said: ‘We were talking about the tour and I said “come on, you’ve got to come out on tour” and we were talking about the new album and everything. William said [he would] if we could get Taylor Swift there.’

Guitarist Wood told William that Swift had sung with Stones’ frontman Sir Mick Jagger and said the prince replied, ‘I’m there then.’

Just nine months later, and William sent royal fans wild as he was spotted attending the star’s tour in London.

Royal experts have claimed that William is trying to position himself as ‘the people’s Prince’ by making sure he’s seen at the Eras tour, and wants to be seen as a ‘relatable royal’ like his mother Princess Diana.

William and Taylor go back many years, and the Prince of Wales has long made it known he is a fan of her music.

In November 2013, William joined the US popstar on stage at a fundraising gala for an impromptu performance with Jon Bon Jovi.

In 2021, William admitted that he obeyed ‘like a puppy’ when glamorous pop star Swift ordered him on stage for an impromptu performance with Jon Bon Jovi.

Recalling a fundraising gala in November 2013 for the homeless charity Centrepoint, a cause first championed by his late mother Princess Diana, the prince said: ‘I can’t believe I’m actually telling you this story… I turn up and Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift are at the event, which nearly knocked me off my feet.

William attended the first London Eras Tour show on Friday night at Wembley Stadium (pictured)

The Prince of Wales was spotted ‘dad dancing’ to Shake It Off in the audience

Heir guitar! Prince William meets Rolling Stone star Ronnie Wood

‘And then, I went inside, met everybody, a lot of handshaking to do those nights, a lot of chatting. I try and be charming and interactive. Occasionally, you’re not having a good day, and it’s a little harder to come by.

‘When I sat down to watch Jon Bon Jovi do his performance, I thought, “That’s it. My job is done. I’ll get a dinner in a minute, and I might be able to have a chat to some people, and, you know, I’m off-duty a little bit now.” ‘

But matters did not go according to that plan. ‘Little did I think what was going to happen next,’ he added. ‘I’m sat next to Taylor Swift. She’s on my left – and after Jon does his first song, there’s a pause and she turns to me.

‘She puts her hand on my arm, looks me in the eye and says, “Come on, William. Let’s go and sing.” To this day, I still do not know what came over me. Honestly, even now I’m cringing at what happened next, and I don’t understand why I gave in.

‘But, frankly, if Taylor Swift looks you in the eye, touches your arm and says, “Come with me…” I got up like a puppy and went, “Yeah, OK, that seems like a great idea. I’ll follow you.”

‘I walked up on stage in a trance and then sort of halfway through Jon Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer song, I wake up. And I’m thinking to myself, “Am I standing on the stage singing Livin’ On A Prayer when I don’t even know the words?”

In November 2013, William joined the US popstar (pictured chatting to one another in November 2013) on stage at a fundraising gala for an impromptu performance with Jon Bon Jovi

Taylor Swift appears to have a fan in the Prince of Wales it seems, according to Ronnie Wood. Pictured, Prince William sings with Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi at a fundraising gala in November 2013

2013: Prince William sings with Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi

‘But the Centrepoint young guys and girls were there, all loving it and cheering away. So I thought, “Well, if they’re enjoying it, then the night is for them. So sod it. I can’t be the doofus who’s going to ruin it for everyone.”

‘And so I desperately try and remember some of the words and sing as hard as I can. Beneath my black tie, there was a lot of sweating going on.

‘I felt like a swan, where I was trying to keep myself composed on the outside, but inside, the little legs are paddling fast.

‘Now, a lot of people might think I’m comfortable on stage. When I do speeches and things like that, I’ve done so many now, they’re not a problem. But I’ve not done singing.’

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday shortly after the event, Swift said: ‘I could hear his voice and it’s pretty good. A nice tone. I’d definitely say he has got star quality and if he ever wants me to sing with him again, I’ll be there.’

The Prince of Wales was among the 90,000-strong crowd in London for the hottest ticket in town as Taylor kicked off the London leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour at Wembley on Friday – after he took along his children Prince George, 10, and nine-year-old Princess Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Prince Louis, six, stayed home with his mother Kate Middleton.

The Prince and Princess of Wales’s official X account posted the adorable photo with the caption: ‘Thank you Taylor Swift for a great evening!’

In 2021, William admitted that he obeyed ‘like a puppy’ when glamorous pop star Swift ordered him on stage for an impromptu performance with Jon Bon Jovi

Soon after, the popstar posted a selfie with the royals and her boyfriend Kelce to say: ‘Happy birthday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start’ in a touching message to the heir for his 42nd birthday.

In the photo, Kelce was seen wearing his Team USA Olympics hat.

Comments posted on X, formerly Twitter, in response to footage of William dancing included: ‘This is my favourite thing ever!!! I never knew I needed to see Prince William dancing to Taylor Swift!’

Another poster wrote: ‘Prince William is a Swiftie. Immense dad dancing there.’

Taylor’s three shows over the weekend came after the military band at Buckingham Palace earlier in the day performed a rendition of Shake It Of to mark the Eras Tour arriving in the UK capital.

Taylor will return to Wembley Stadium in August to perform another five sold-out shows.