William goes wild with rock royalty: Prince joins Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift on stage for impromptu performance of Livin’ On A Prayer

He famously performed a karaoke version of the song at his cousin Zara’s wedding reception – but it seems that was merely Prince William’s warm-up. To the delight of the 600-strong audience at a charity event, the future king was persuaded to join Jon Bon Jovi on stage to sing along with his band’s hit Livin’ On A Prayer.

American star Taylor Swift made up the third member of the rather unlikely trio as they gave the impromptu performance, which even featured the Duke of Cambridge playing the air guitar and ended with him high-fiving his bandmates. The spectacle was the finale to the glitzy Winter Whites Gala evening at Kensington Palace on Tuesday which raised more than £1million for youth homeless organisation Centrepoint.

Aides insisted William’s stunt had not been planned in advance, with one saying: ‘It was totally off-the-cuff. None of us could believe our eyes. Video of the royal singing with Miss Swift and Bon Jovi – whose music William’s late mother loved – has already become an internet sensation, with hundreds of thousands of views.

Perhaps they include his wife Kate, who missed the show to look after their four-month-old son George. The performance took place inside a specially erected marquee for a concert compared by Jonathan Ross and kicked off by Eliza Dolittle, who thanked Prince William for ‘letting us use his gaff tonight’! Other acts included James Blunt and rapper Tinie Tempah, who adapted the words of his hit single Children Of The Sun to include a reference to Prince Harry’s notorious Las Vegas antics.

Star turn Taylor Swift electrified the audience with a performance of her hit singles Trouble and Fifteen. She told the audience: ‘I’m Taylor, it is very nice to meet you, especially under these circumstances. It is my first time playing at Kensington Palace or any other palace for that matter.

‘I have to thank you, Prince William, for having me. It’s amazing. ‘To call attention to this age group especially, teens and young adults.’ She also sang her breakthrough hit Love Story, written when she was banned from going on a date at 17. She said: ‘This has reference to palaces, princes and princesses and it is very strange that I end up playing it in a palace.’