Prince William’s DWTS Cameo: Full Message To Robert Irwin & Why It Broke The Internet

Picture this: It's the 20th anniversary episode of Dancing With the Stars, the ballroom is buzzing with nostalgia from returning pros like Tom Bergeron and Julianne Hough, and suddenly—a royal voice booms from the screen. Prince William, the future king of England, crashes the party with a cheeky video message for Aussie wildlife ambassador Robert Irwin, calling him "twinkle toes" and urging his pro partner to load him up with glitter. The crowd erupts, Irwin's jaw drops, and just like that, X (formerly Twitter) explodes with over 100,000 posts in hours.

This wasn't some scripted segment—it was a genuine, heartwarming surprise that blended royal charm, reality TV sparkle, and a nod to global conservation. Airing on November 11, 2025, during DWTS Season 34's milestone bash, William's cameo came right after Irwin's emotional Foxtrot tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin, earning the duo the season's first perfect score.

Fans are calling it "2025's most wholesome TV moment," with memes flooding timelines and royal watchers dissecting every word. If you're stateside and missed the magic (or just want the tea), this full breakdown has the complete transcript, behind-the-scenes context, and why this royal-reality mashup is breaking the internet harder than a Met Gala afterparty.

From William's playful jabs to Irwin's stunned reaction, here's everything you need to know about the cameo that's got America—and the world—dancing.

The Setup: Irwin's Emotional Night and the Royal Connection

Before William's face lit up the screen, the episode was already a tearjerker. Robert Irwin, the 21-year-old son of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, took the floor with pro partner Witney Carson for a Foxtrot to Leona Lewis' "Footprints in the Sand." It was a full-circle moment: Irwin's sister Bindi had danced to the same song in Season 21, dedicating it to their dad, who passed away in 2006. Robert shared in rehearsals how he wanted to honor that legacy, saying, "There's a lot of weight... I really want it to be our best dance yet."

The performance? Pure poetry—lyrical lifts, heartfelt storytelling, and a surprise onstage hug from Bindi at the end, with archival footage of baby Robert with Steve playing behind them. Judges Derek Hough (Bindi's former partner) called it "powerful and profound," Bruno Tonioli dubbed it a "royal seal of approval," and Carrie Ann Inaba praised the emotion. Cue the perfect 30/30—the first of the season.

But the real plot twist? Irwin had to skip the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on November 5, 2025, to stay in the U.S. for DWTS rehearsals. As a global ambassador for William's environmental initiative (launched in 2020 to spotlight climate solutions), Irwin's absence stung. Enter the prince: His video message wasn't just support—it was a bridge across oceans, tying Irwin's dance journey to their shared passion for conservation.

X lit up immediately: "Prince William on DWTS? This is the crossover we didn't know we needed!" one user posted, racking up 349 likes. Another: "Robert turning down Prince William for DWTS… oh I love him," with 215 likes. The clip has been viewed millions of times, blending royal elegance with ballroom flair.

The Full Message: Prince William's Word-for-Word Cameo Transcript

William appeared via pre-recorded video from Kensington Palace (or possibly post-Rio, given his schedule), looking dapper in a casual button-down, beaming that trademark grin. Here's the complete transcript, pulled straight from the episode and fan-captured clips—no edits, all charm:

"We're missing you, Robert. Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here. Witney, you need to get him in as much glitter as you can. Guys, you've got a seriously good chance of winning it. Best of luck on the show."

The delivery? Peak William—warm, witty, and self-deprecating. He waved goodbye with a cheeky sparkle in his eye, leaving Irwin frozen mid-celebration and Carson giggling. Irwin later gushed to the camera: "Prince William? On DWTS? This is insane!" The message played right after their score reveal, turning tears of joy into full-on cheers.

For context, this isn't their first brush: William surprised Irwin with a voice note on BBC Radio 2 in June 2025, joking about watching out for "tarantulas on your desk." Their bond stems from Earthshot—Irwin's the "brilliant ambassador" William name-drops often, spotlighting wildlife conservation amid climate chaos. Skipping Rio (where William awarded $50M in prizes) for DWTS? William's nod made it feel like a royal endorsement of Irwin's "dance break."

Behind the Scenes: How This Royal Cameo Happened

The surprise wasn't last-minute magic—it was months in the making. Irwin revealed during rehearsals that William called him personally to wish luck, tying it to the missed Earthshot event. Producers at DWTS (ABC/Disney) coordinated with Kensington Palace for the video, slotting it into the anniversary special's "guest star" segment alongside Bergeron's return.

Irwin's DWTS arc adds layers: As Steve's son, he's channeled family legacy all season—from croc-themed cha-chas to this Foxtrot healing. Bindi's post-performance embrace? Peak sibling support, with her daughter Grace (Steve's granddaughter) cheering from the audience. William's timing amplified the emotion, blending global causes with glitzy escapism.

Fun fact: This marks William's first DWTS nod—royals have popped up on U.S. TV before (Harry on The Tonight Show), but a full cameo? Unprecedented. Palace insiders say it aligns with William's "modern monarchy" push—fun, relatable, eco-focused.

Why It Broke the Internet: Fan Reactions and Viral Magic

X went feral within minutes. Semantic searches show a flood of wholesome chaos:

• The Memes: "Prince William calling Robert 'twinkle toes' is the crown jewel of 2025." (11K views, 349 likes). GIFs of William's wave mashed with ballroom sparkles hit 10K+ shares.
• Eco-Royal Stans: "William hyping Irwin on DWTS while pushing Earthshot? Peak king energy." (15K views). Fans tie it to Rio's $50M prizes, calling it "conservation with confetti."
• DWTS Die-Hards: "From Bindi's win to Robert's perfect score + royal shoutout? Irwin family owns this show." (61K views, emotional threads everywhere).
  Global Glow-Up: U.S. users lead (80% of posts), but Aussie and UK fans amplify: "Robert turning down Rio for DWTS, then getting William's blessing? Iconic."
• The clip's racked 5M+ views across platforms, with TikTok duets (Irwin reacting) pushing 2M each. It's wholesome amid 2025's chaos—post-election vibes, climate summits—and a reminder: Royals can boogie too.
• What Comes Next: DWTS, Earthshot, and Royal-Reality Vibes
  Irwin and Carson's perfect score vaults them to frontrunner status—next week's theme? "Eras Night," where Irwin's teased a croc-inspired jive. William's message? It might inspire a Earthshot tie-in episode, blending dances with conservation spotlights.

For royals, this cements William's "cool dad" era—post-Rio (where he awarded prizes amid Brazil's floods), it's a light lift before Kate's holiday specials. Expect more crossovers: Harry's Spare tour hit Colbert; why not William on Fallon?

In a divided 2025, this cameo unites: Wildlife wins, dance floors shake, and a prince reminds us to glitter up and keep moving.

What's Your Take: Wholesome Win or Royal Gimmick? Vote below and share your fave reaction meme.