Long before he was tasked with upholding centuries of royal tradition, stepping out for high-profile state dinners, and championing global environmental initiatives, Prince William had a very different kind of stage in mind. The future king once harbored secret aspirations of becoming a professional disc jockey, complete with a dramatic stage name and an unconventional aesthetic that he now admits quickly lost its appeal.
The surprising revelation came to light during the future monarch’s landmark appearance on The Graham Norton Show, which aired on October 23. Sitting on the program’s famous red couch alongside a star-studded lineup that included acclaimed actress Cate Blanchett, wildlife conservationist and television personality Robert Irwin, and stage-and-screen star Hannah Waddingham, the Prince of Wales opened up about his brief and unsuccessful phase as an aspiring turntablist.
During the lively conversation, William reflected on his youth with self-deprecating humor, sharing details of a musical alter ego that left his fellow celebrity guests both amused and bewildered.
"I went through a phase where I wanted to be a DJ, which didn’t go very well," the royal admitted to host Graham Norton and the studio audience, sparking laughter across the room. Elaborating further on his brief musical ambitions, he revealed the moniker he had selected for his prospective career behind the decks. "And I came up with a name. I was called ‘DJ Xara’ with an X."
The unique name immediately drew a playful reaction from the panel. Hannah Waddingham, visibly taken aback by the choice, did not hesitate to offer her unfiltered critique.
"DJ Zara?" Waddingham asked, reacting to the pronunciation before delivering a sharp comedic verdict. "That’s rubbish."
As the studio erupted in laughter, Cate Blanchett chimed in, expressing a keen journalistic curiosity regarding the unusual orthography. The Academy Award-winning actress wanted to know more about the stylistic spelling choice, prompting William to clarify that the "X" was placed at the very beginning of the name. As he explained the spelling to Blanchett, he accompanied his words with a distinct crossing motion of his hands.
Quick to spot an opportunity for theatrical flair, Blanchett immediately seized on the physical gesture. "And was that one of your moves?" she asked, wondering if the hand-crossing was part of his routine behind the turntable.
"No, I didn’t do the move," William quipped instantly, shutting down any hopes or expectations of seeing a signature dance routine from the royal. "It rapidly became very uncool."
When asked whether he ever managed to make it behind the decks in a professional capacity, the prince offered a realistic assessment of his musical talents. Clarifying that his dreams never truly materialized into a viable career, he admitted, "I never got that good."
While "DJ Xara" ultimately failed to conquer the music charts or secure club residencies, spinning records was not the only unconventional career path the young prince considered during his formative years. Alongside his fleeting musical aspirations, William also revealed that he once dreamed of trading his royal duties for a very different kind of uniform.
The prince admitted that when he was younger, he seriously considered pursuing a career as a policeman. Explaining the appeal of the profession to his fellow guests and the viewing audience, William remarked simply that he "thought [it] was quite cool."
Beyond the lighthearted banter, humorous anecdotes, and walk down memory lane, Prince William’s appearance on the popular British talk show marked a significant milestone in modern royal public relations. His sit-down on the program’s iconic red couch represented a historic first for the British royal family, as no senior working royal had ever previously appeared as a guest on the show.
The unprecedented television appearance was designed to spotlight a cause close to the prince’s heart: the Earthshot Prize, his global environmental initiative aimed at discovering and scaling solutions to repair the planet. The partnership brought a distinct conservation focus to the entertainment program, blending mainstream pop culture with serious environmental advocacy.
Ahead of the broadcast, Kensington Palace generated immense public excitement by offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the studio setup. Sharing a photograph of the famous red set on the official Kensington Palace Instagram account, the office captioned the post, "Joining the iconic red sofa for a very special @earthshotprize edition of the @thegrahamnortonshowofficial."
The broadcast successfully merged the approachable, humorous side of the future king with his dedication to serious global issues, offering the public a rare and unfiltered look at the man behind the royal title—complete with the lingering ghost of a teenage DJing persona named DJ Xara.
