Prince William Tried to Cut Travis Kelce Out of Taylor Swift’s Viral Selfie—and Kelce Finally Addressed It

Travis Kelce holds zero grudges after Prince William publicly admitted he tried to push the NFL star out of Taylor Swift’s viral backstage selfie at the 2024 Eras Tour. Speaking openly on the New Heights podcast, Kelce laughed off the royal encounter, explaining that he understood completely why the future king wanted him out of the frame before his place in Swift’s life was permanent.

“I get it, man,” Kelce told his brother and co-host, Jason Kelce. “I was just a boyfriend at that point. I wasn’t her husband yet.”

The moment in question occurred backstage during Swift’s London concert stops, capturing a lighthearted collision of American pop royalty and the British monarchy.

Taylor Swift takes a backstage selfie with Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Travis Kelce.

Travis Kelce on the New Heights podcast.

What Really Happened Behind the Scenes at Wembley?

Travis, 37, quipped that the 44-year-old Prince of Wales was simply protecting the longevity of a royal family keepsake. In Kelce’s view, William was likely weighing whether the relationship was built to last.

Kelce joked that the royal probably thought, “We don’t really know if this is going to last, so can you just kind of move out of the way really quick? So we can keep this photo forever?”

Jason Kelce quickly joined in on the banter, joking that he hoped the couple’s romance would endure while sharing an edited version of the snapshot that cropped Travis out entirely, leaving only Swift, Prince William, Prince George, 13, and Princess Charlotte, 11.

Travis Kelce during a podcast recording.

Prince William during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

Prince William’s Cheeky Confession on British Television

The conversation was sparked by Prince William’s appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where the heir to the British throne confessed to actively attempting to maneuver Kelce out of the frame.

“Travis kept coming back in, and I couldn’t work out why he kept coming back in. I was trying to move him out so it was just me and Taylor and the children!”

While the interaction appeared completely seamless when Swift published the photo to her personal Instagram feed to celebrate the launch of her UK tour dates, the true behind-the-scenes dynamics told a very different story.

Travis Kelce and Prince William discussing the backstage photo.

Prince William on the set of The Graham Norton Show.

The Significance Prince William Missed

Myth vs. Reality: Many casual observers assumed the backstage selfie was simply an impromptu royal meet-and-greet. In reality, the post marked the very first time Swift or Kelce had shared each other on social media since their romance began in mid-2024.

William admitted during his television interview that he was completely unaware of the digital milestone unfolding in front of him, explaining that he “hadn’t appreciated the significance” at the time.

During the concert itself, William was seen dancing to Swift’s 2014 hit “Shake It Off,” attending the show alongside George and Charlotte while Kate Middleton and eight-year-old Prince Louis stayed home.

Prince William meets singer Taylor Swift at Kensington Palace for the Centrepoint Winter Whites Gala on November 26, 2013 in London, England.

Taylor Swift, Jon Bon Jovi, and Prince William singing on stage into a microphone.

From ‘Just a Boyfriend’ to Forever

While William may have had reservations about framing a temporary boyfriend, Kelce’s position in Swift’s life solidified soon after.

The couple got engaged in August 2025 during an intimate garden proposal at Kelce’s Missouri residence following two years together. They later exchanged vows in a star-studded ceremony at Madison Square Garden in New York City on July 3, cementing their union firmly beyond the realm of short-lived relationships.

💬 William’s tactical photo-crop instincts may be relatable to anyone taking family photos, but Kelce’s humor about the situation shows both men can laugh about it now.

✨ Would you have tried to crop the boyfriend out of the frame too? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!