Prince William looks ‘saddened’ during surprise ‘DWTS’ appearance
“We miss you, Robert,” the Prince of Wales said of Irwin, 21, who has attended several Earthshot Prize ceremonies around the world in the past but was in the middle of the battle for the Mirrorball trophy and had to skip the 2025 festivities.
“While your twinkling toes go elsewhere, I need you here,” William continued.
He then made Irwin’s professional partner Witney Carson’s day, addressing her by name and telling her, “You need to give him as much glitter as you can.”
“Guys, you have a really good chance of winning, so good luck on the show,” William told the pair as Irwin gushed. “It means the absolute world, thank you very much.”
Carson, 32, gasped with joy and raved, “I can’t believe he just said my name!”
While William’s gracious gesture touched most fans, others were concerned about his appearance.
It was clear that the future king had made the call from a conference room, as bright lights shone on him, creating unhealthy-looking shadows and a very shiny forehead.
The lighting also gave William’s face a red tint, making him look nothing like the dashing royal man so many fans have fallen in love with.
“What happened to Willem?” one fan wondered on X, while a second wrote, “He looks disheveled.”
A third user sneered“God William looks awful,” while a fourth accused the prince of drinking, writing: “A very pink and blushing William. Was it dry gin or port?”
However, other fans loved that William took the time to call Robert even though the lighting situation was terrible.
“It was so cool! What a nice surprise for Robert to have Prince William cheering him on,” one person marveled, while a second person cheered him on. noted“What a nice thing for him to do. Taking time off while he does the Earshot Prize in Brazil.”
William’s well wishes turned out to be a good luck charm, as Irwin and Carson earned their first perfect score of the season, receiving a total of 40 points from the four judges for their foxtrot. The emotion of the dance and the judges’ praise nearly brought Irwin to tears.
The dance was made all the more emotional because it was set to Leona Lewis’s dance. Footprints in the sandwhich Robert’s sister, Bindi Irwin, danced to when she won DWTS season 21.
As the song came to an end, Bindi came on stage to finish the dance in her brother’s arms before photos appeared on the ballroom of their beloved late father, wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, holding his children when they were young before his tragic death in 2006.
