Travis Kelce isn't holding a grudge against Prince William for trying to keep him out of a memorable Taylor Swift selfie. In fact, the Kansas City Chiefs star thinks the future king had a pretty reasonable explanation.
During the October 28 episode of the New Heights podcast, Kelce responded to Prince William's hilarious confession that he attempted to move the NFL player out of a backstage photo with Swift, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte during her 2024 Eras Tour concert in London.
© David M.Benett/CentrepointRather than taking offense, Kelce laughed off the revelation and acknowledged that his relationship with Swift was still relatively new when the photograph was taken. "I get it, man. I think we all get it," Kelce said.
Travis Kelce Responds to Prince William's Taylor Swift Selfie Confession
Kelce addressed the royal revelation while chatting with his older brother, Jason Kelce, on their popular New Heights podcast. The 37-year-old athlete explained that he understood why Prince William might have preferred a photograph featuring only Swift and his children.
At the time, Kelce and Swift were dating, but their future together was not yet certain. "I was just a boyfriend at that point," Kelce explained, before noting that he had not yet become Swift's husband.
© Taylor SwiftHe jokingly suggested that William might have been thinking about the possibility of their relationship not lasting. After all, an awkward photograph featuring an ex-boyfriend would not necessarily make the best royal family keepsake.
Kelce continued to poke fun at the situation, imagining the prince wanting him to step aside so the photograph could remain a happy memory regardless of what happened between him and Swift. "Shout out to Prince William, man," Kelce added.
Prince William Reveals Why He Tried to Move Travis Kelce Out of the Photo
The conversation began after Prince William appeared on the October 23 episode of The Graham Norton Show. During the interview, host Graham Norton brought up the famous backstage selfie taken at Wembley Stadium on June 21, 2024.
William attended Swift's Eras Tour concert with his two eldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to celebrate his 42nd birthday. The group posed for a photograph with Swift and Kelce, but William revealed that he had initially envisioned a slightly different picture.
© Taylor SwiftThe Prince of Wales admitted he hadn't realized how important the moment would become for Swift and Kelce's relationship. "I hadn't appreciated the significance," William said, before joking that he had tried to move Kelce out of the frame. "But Travis kept coming back in," the royal continued, explaining that he couldn't understand why the football star repeatedly returned to the photograph.
William said he had wanted a picture featuring himself, Swift, and his children. The unexpected confession drew laughter from the studio audience, especially considering that Kelce's presence helped make the image one of the most memorable celebrity photographs of 2024.
Jason Kelce Joins the Fun With a Photoshop Joke
Travis wasn't the only Kelce brother entertained by the prince's confession. Jason, 38, agreed that William's reasoning made sense, describing the situation as "very understandable."
But the retired Philadelphia Eagles center wasn't ready to let the moment pass without adding another joke. During their podcast conversation, Jason suggested that the New Heights graphics team could digitally remove Travis from the original photograph.
© GC ImagesTravis immediately embraced the idea, joking that they should send the edited version directly to Buckingham Palace. "I gotta ship that to him," Travis said, before wondering whether a photograph mailed to the palace would actually reach Prince William.
Taylor Swift's 2024 Royal Selfie Was a Big Deal
The photograph was more than just a celebrity meeting a member of the British royal family. It marked the first time Swift shared a picture featuring Kelce on her main Instagram feed.
The singer posted the selfie following her June 21, 2024, concert at London's Wembley Stadium, where Prince William celebrated his birthday with George and Charlotte. "Happy Bday M8!" Swift wrote in the Instagram caption, adding that her London concerts were off to a splendid start.
© Dave J Hogan/CentrepointThe picture showed Swift smiling alongside the royal family members, with Kelce joining the group. Although Swift and Kelce had already been publicly linked since 2023, the Instagram post represented a new level of visibility for their romance.
Interestingly, the Prince and Princess of Wales' official Instagram account shared a different photograph from the same backstage encounter, one that featured Swift with William and his children but did not include Kelce.
That means the royal family actually got the Kelce-free photograph William had been hoping for.
Travis Kelce and Prince William Already Have a Friendly History
Despite the latest jokes, Kelce and Prince William have spoken warmly about meeting each other. Shortly after the 2024 Eras Tour encounter, Kelce discussed the experience on New Heights, revealing that he had been uncertain about the proper etiquette for greeting British royalty.
He praised William's friendly demeanor and described meeting George and Charlotte as a delightful experience. Jason also recalled receiving guidance about whether they needed to bow or curtsy when greeting the prince.
© Getty Images
© Getty ImagesTheir connection continued in July 2026, when William appeared as a guest on the Kelce brothers' podcast. During the conversation, Travis looked back fondly on their first meeting, calling it "one of the coolest moments ever."
The podcast appearance aired on July 3, the same day Swift and Kelce married at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
