Taylor Swift’s long-awaited Eras Tour kicked off in spectacular fashion on June 21st, 2024, at London’s Wembley Stadium. The concert’s opening night was filled with joy and surprises, including a meet-and-greet with British royalty and a birthday celebration for Prince William.
Royals Join the Celebration
The highlight of the evening came when Swift shared a selfie on social media, featuring herself alongside her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, Prince William, and the royal couple’s children, Prince George (10) and Princess Charlotte (9). The photo captured a heartwarming moment, with a smiling Prince William standing between Swift and Kelce, one hand on each child’s shoulder. Swift captioned the photo with a birthday greeting to the Prince, “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start.”
Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start 🇬🇧🇺🇸🤝 @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/VlD6V0PiEL
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 22, 2024
The official Instagram account of the Prince and Princess of Wales also shared a photo from the event, expressing their gratitude to Swift. Their caption read, “Thank you @taylorswift13 for a great evening! #LondonTSTheErastour.”
Birthday Serenades and Royal Dance Moves
News reports revealed that Prince William enjoyed the concert immensely, even joining the crowd in dancing to Swift’s hit song “Shake It Off.” This energetic participation wasn’t the only royal tribute to the pop star. Earlier on June 21st, the royal guard outside Buckingham Palace surprised Swift with a special performance of the same song. The official social media accounts of the royal family shared a video of the performance with the caption, “Can’t stop, won’t stop groovin’.”
Can't stop, won't stop groovin' 🫡🥁🎺@BritishArmy | @ArmyInLondon | @CorpsArmyMusic pic.twitter.com/JYrdCaG5gR
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 21, 2024
Celebrity Support and Kate Middleton’s Absence
The opening night of the Eras Tour also saw support from the sporting world. Travis Kelce, Swift’s boyfriend and tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, attended the concert with his brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie. While there was a notable royal absence, with Kate Middleton unable to attend due to ongoing cancer treatment, Meghan Markle, Prince William’s sister-in-law, reportedly joined Swift for a stop on the Eras Tour in Los Angeles back in August 2023.
A Memorable Kick-Off for the Eras Tour
The royal meet-and-greet and birthday celebration added an unexpected layer of excitement to the opening night of the Eras Tour. With sold-out crowds and enthusiastic fans, the concert seems to be a promising start to Swift’s highly anticipated tour.
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