Kate Milddeton's flirty jig and other times royals stole the show with their dance moves
Among the many spectacles and unexpected moments in Sunday’s Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, few were more striking than the sight of Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh dancing along to Lionel Ritchie and Take That.
And the real surprise? She could really move, winning praise from viewers and royal fans who took to Twitter in astonishment.
‘I’ve never wanted to party with a Royal more,’ wrote one.
We’ve seen the Windsors dance before, of course – because it’s not uncommon for members of the Royal Family to be pulled on to the dance floor for a regal boogie.
The Duchess of Edinburgh shows the world she can actually dance at the Coronation concert
Her impromptu performance won praise from royal fans and Twitter followers
But while the late Queen Elizabeth was famously a good dancer, some of the younger generation have shone more brightly than others.
Here, then, are some of the other show-stopping moments when the royals agreed to cut some shapes. For better and for worse…
Prince William
The Prince of Wales has been known to indulge in a spot of dad dancing, not least when he was spotted in his buttoned up shirt busting moves to hip hop track I Got 5 On It in a nightclub in Verbier.
And it was little better on tour in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific in 2012, when he seemed to lack the more natural rhythm of his wife.
William’s enthusiastic moves paled next to those of his wife while on tour in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific in 2012
The prince attempted a boogie while visiting Belize on the Platinum Jubilee Royal Tour of the Caribeean
The prince was seen enjoying himself in the stands at Wembley at the Concert for Diana alongside his brother Harry
Taking part in a traditional welcome dance on the island of Tuvalu, Kate started the royal knees up, putting on her grass skirt and swaying in time to the music, eventually cajoling William into joining her.
He got full marks for effort, but that was about it as he waved his arms next to Kate. She later claimed that her husband had been secretly practising his dance moves at Kensington Palace.
He hasn’t always needed Kate by his side to hit the floor and he was pictured boogying in the stands at Wembley in 2007 at the Concert for Diana alongside his brother Harry.
Going through a temporary break up with Kate at the time, body language expert Judi James told The Express that his ecstatic dancing showed ‘there is the strong hint that William is trying to boast to Kate that he is relishing his freedom and is capable of having the most fun time without her’.
Throwing up his arms and singing along, Judi added: ‘His elbows are raised in geezer mode and his neck-wobble hints at a touch of rebellion.’
Kate Middleton
Early snaps of Kate tearing up the dancefloor aren’t hard to come by as she was pictured being twirled by Guy Pelly, who would later become Prince Louis’ godfather, at Richard Branson’s Summer and Tennis Party at the Kensington Roof Gardens in 2006.
And it seems the urge to pull the princess into a spin did not lose its allure when she married into the royal family, with even Paddington Bear grabbing Kate by the hand for a graceful twirl, much to William and Harry’s glee.
Kate was pictured twirled Guy Pelly, who would later become Prince Louis’ godfather, at Richard Branson’s Summer and Tennis Party at the Kensington Roof Gardens in 2006
Kate showed off her sense of rhythm as she danced in Tuvalu while on tour with her husband
Even Paddington Bear couldn’t resist dancing with the royal, grabbing Kate by the hand for a graceful twirl at Paddington Station in 2017
The princess danced with locals in Belize last year while on a tour marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
She showed off her natural flair while on tour with William in Tuvalu in 2012 and demonstrated a similar enthusiasm during a welcome dance in Belize ten years later.
Sporting a floaty floral dress, she joined in the dancing before flirtatiously boogying her way over to Prince William as he watched from the sidelines.
Prince Harry
Party Prince Harry is not afraid of the dancefloor and has been quick to criticise his older brother’s moves.
While on a visit to Rio in 2012, he referenced his father’s dance with a samba girl in Brazil before adding: ‘I’m just glad my brother isn’t here as he would want to do it and that wouldn’t be cool.’
Harry then proceeded to sample the delights of samba, which followed a whirlwind of dance installments during his Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Caribbean and Brazil.
Prince Harry joined in the dancing while at a street party in Belize as part of his Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Caribbean and Brazil
He joined in after being challenged by the city’s mayor who said that he had been told he was a ‘good dancer’
In 2015, he broke into some impromptu dance moves with children at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho
Within hours of arriving in Belize, Harry had been whisked to an enormous street party in the capital city of Belmopan where he was challenged by the city’s mayor who said: ‘I have been forewarned you are an outgoing person who is a good dancer!’
Between sipping rum and cocktails, Harry danced first with Denese Enriquez, pulling her towards him, before expertly spinning her away and continuing to the accompanying reggae music.
He worked up an even greater sweat by dancing the Jahncanoe, another local favourite, with Laverne Arzu who said: ‘Harry danced so good, he really shook his hips.’
The following year, the prince was seen kneeling down to join in a dance at a school for deaf children in Lesotho and on another visit in 2015, he broke into some impromptu dance moves with children at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre.
Meghan Markle
After his DJ set at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding, Idris Elba revealed that Meghan had been the best dancer at the reception.
Speaking to ET Canada, the Luther actor said: ‘I think Meghan was the one that was really like letting it go.
‘You know, she was real… She just had a lot of fun. It was her wedding. So she had the greatest time.’
Among Meghan’s requested songs for the event were Still by Dr Dre and the classic by Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
Idris Elba revealed that Meghan Markle was the best dancer at her wedding reception after he performed a DJ set at the event
Among Meghan’s requested songs for the event were Still by Dr Dre and the classic by Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Body language expert Judi James suggested that her first dance with Harry, to the track Land Of A Thousand Dances, may have been practised in advance
The duchess showed off her natural rhythm when she twirled and clapped with locals while visiting Nyanga in the Cape Flats just outside of Cape Town in 2019
In their Netflix series, Harry and Meghan shared a number of pictures from their wedding album.
In a clip about the 2018 reception, Meghan said: ‘I just really wanted the music to be fun. Even our first dance.’
She turns to her husband and asks: ‘Song of 1,000 Dances? A thousand dances? I always get it wrong.’
The duchess sings lyrics from the 60s soul hit Land Of A Thousand Dances, which the couple chose for their first dance.
Snaps from the event showed Meghan and Harry twirling around on the dancefloor, as well as boogying with friends from their star-studded guestlist.
Body language expert Judi James suggested that Meghan and Harry may have practised their ‘swirling’ dance moves ahead of their big day.
Speaking about Meghan’s first dance, she said: ‘She’s a very elegant bride in low cut dress and so she would not have wanted to be causally thrown around the dance floor. It could have been an absolute disaster if not practised.’
She added: ‘Meghan has created elegance with spontaneous fun. She’s nailed it and is throwing herself in. They are both totally in tune and synchronised.’
The duchess was also seen dancing on royal engagements and showed off her natural rhythm when she twirled and clapped with locals while visiting Nyanga in the Cape Flats just outside of Cape Town in 2019.
Christine Ross, the editor of the Meghan’s Mirror blog, told the Mirror’s royal podcast Pod Save the Queen that Meghan and Harry’s dance was the moment they showed that ‘wanted to be more down to earth’.
She said: ‘She’s in this very affordable dress, she’s in affordable wedges, her hair is in a ponytail, she’s dancing with children.’
‘We didn’t know then what we know now but I think that moment and that look was a turning point in their roles, in that they weren’t going to be these high glamour royals anymore.’
King Charles
King Charles has faced decades of polite demands than he get on the dancefloor.
Every style and genre has been covered. In 1998, he was seen thrusting his hips in a synchronised recreation of The Full Monty to the sound of Donna Summer’s Hot Stuff while the following year he flamboyantly kicked his feet as he led his expert partner Adriana Vasile in a Tango in Buenos Aires.
Charles was left particularly enamoured with the samba after he took to the floor with a dancer in Rio in 1978, performing what he described as ‘a somewhat rudimentary version of the samba with a rather dramatically semi-naked lady’.
King Charles is most at home on the dancefloor and has often been pulled up for a dance at royal engagements (pictured at a Prince’s Trust party to celebrate his 40th birthday in Birmingham)
Charles takes to the floor with a dancer in Rio in 1978
Dancing at the Town Hall in the city, Charles later explained he had performed a ‘somewhat rudimentary version of the samba’
Charles led his expert partner Adriana Vasile in a Tango at The Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires
He boogied unashamedly with the glamorous Three Degrees as they performed during a charity fundraiser for The Prince’s Trust
The royal joined in a dance with residents of Tolasar village, outside Jodhpur while on a visit to India in 2010
During a 2014 trip to Mexico, Charles looked gleeful as he joined in a dance, known locally as a Sarao Campechano
Charles was pictured trying a robotic wrist movement as he attempting breakdancing at a gathering for The Prince’s Trust
He knelt on the ground as he joined in with his fellow dancers at the disco in Middleton-on-Sea
Despite his awkward moves and lack of technique, he boogied with gusto as he was cheered on from the sidelines
He did not hold back during a visit to the Madeley Community Centre in Derby when he hit the dancefloor much to the delight of the crowd
The moment seemed to stick with the royal, sharing the story with his son Prince Harry, who said on a trip to Rio in 2012: ‘Over the years, I’ve seen and heard so much about this extraordinary place – in fact, ever since my father told me about a certain dance he once had with a beautiful girl called Pinah. It just seems to have stuck in his mind for some reason.’
The prince has always been happy to play his part, once taking to the stage with the glamorous Three Degrees to boogie alongside them as they performed during a charity fundraiser for The Prince’s Trust.
Despite his awkward moves and lack of technique, he also joined in with gusto as he was enticed onto the dancefloor by a lively group of young people at a disco in Middleton-on-Sea.
The striking moment – which came following a workshop organised by The Prince’s Trust for young unemployed people – saw Charles spontaneously shuffle his feet and kneel down in attempt to breakdance, to the delight of onlooking crowds.
Body language expert Judi James ha previously explained that Charles’ inclination to break into off-the-cuff dancing is very unlike the Queen’s style.
She told The Express: ‘She rarely, if ever, went into freefall, doing anything less elegant and more spontaneous, but that is exactly what Charles has always seemed to prefer.
‘He will often be happiest joining in a group dance where he doesn’t know the steps but where he is delighted to put enthusiasm above technique.’
Queen Camilla
In a video call to mark International Dance Day in 2020, Camilla revealed that she had secretly been taking ballet lessons at home with a group of friends.
Speaking to Darcey Bussell and Angela Rippon, Camilla said that she starts her day ‘with a bit of Silver Swans and a bit of Pilates’.
After visiting a Silver Swans class in 2018, which provides ballet classes for older people and is run by the Royal Academy of Dance, Camilla said that the ‘wonderful’ dance teacher, Sarah, asked if she would ever consider trying it.
Camilla has been spotted dancing at several royal engagements (pictured at a tea party and swing dance in Bristol)
The royal took a twirl with Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, who cheekily urged Camilla to ‘show a little bit of hip action’ as they danced a Cha Cha Cha
Camilla also danced with former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole at a National Osteoporosis Society tea party
She joined in with traditional Irish dancing with her husband Charles during a visit to Tipperary
‘So I got together a group of of ancient friends together. The four of us sort of clatter around. When we are in London we do it once a week and it makes all the difference,’ she said.
‘I’ve always loved dancing but I’d never, never done ballet. [I enjoy] the feeling that we are all in it together.
‘We thought at first it was going to be very funny and I was going to laugh at everybody toppling over to me next door, but we concentrate so hard that we don’t even know what our friend next door is doing.
‘When I stand there I think to myself “drop your shoulders, breathe deeply, don’t hunch”. It’s those sorts of things you have ingrained in your memory.’
Since becoming a royal, Camilla has been spotted showing off her moves at a number of engagements including getting involved in traditional Irish dancing as well as a tea party and swing dance.
The royal even took a twirl with Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, who cheekily urged Camilla to ‘show a little bit of hip action’ as they danced a Cha Cha Cha in the hall of St Clement Danes Primary School in Central London.
The notoriously stingy judge said: ‘Considering she’s never had a lesson in her life she had a great natural rhythm. Her sense of timing was excellent and her foot work was spot on. And she has the personality for it.’
Princess Diana
A glamorous Princess Diana was snapped swirling around the floor with Prince Charles at the glitziest royal events.
They entertained guests as they put on an animated display at a ball in Australia in 1983, with the pair laughing as Charles continuously spun his wife around the floor.
The scene was depicted in the Netflix series The Crown as a moment of happiness during their tense six-week tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Charles and Diana put on an animated display at a ball in Australia in 1983, with the pair laughing as Charles continuously spun his wife around the floor
Australia was seemingly the couple’s home of dance and Diana wowed crowds in Melbourne in 1985 (left) and Sydney in 1988 (right) as she danced with Charles
Diana wowed in a green satin gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and an emerald choker she wore as a headband as she danced in Melbourne
24-year-old Diana took to the floor with Hollywood star John Travolta at a White House dinner
The princess also danced with Wayne Sleep at the Royal Opera House in a surprise performance for Charles’ birthday
But Australia was seemingly the couple’s home of dance and Diana wowed crowds in Melbourne as she danced with Charles, memorably wearing her emerald choker as a headband.
The pair were again spotted on the dancefloor in Sydney in 1988, four years before they separated, with Diana dazzling in a floor-length Catherine Walker gown as she was twirled by Charles.
Charles was not her only dance partner and a 24-year-old Diana delighted guests as she danced with Hollywood star John Travolta at a White House dinner wearing a midnight blue Victor Edelstein gown with her dramatic sapphire choker.
Diana had been a long-term lover of dance and had dreamed of becoming a ballerina before she became too tall.
In 1985, she appeared on stage at the Royal Opera House alongside dancer Wayne Sleep in a surprise performance for Charles’ birthday.
While the princess was 5’10 and her partner was 5’2, they left crowds amazed as they danced to Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl.
Describing the event to The Guardian, Wayne Sleep said: ‘On the night, I was first on stage. There was a big round of applause and I thought, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
‘The audience gasped when Diana appeared, as if they’d all taken one huge breath.’
He added: ‘She loved the freedom dancing gave her.’
Queen Elizabeth
The late Queen would spend her summer at her Scottish getaway Balmoral, but she was not only a fan of Scotland’s scenery.
She also loved Scottish dancing and would hold a ball at Balmoral every year where guests could take part in the fun.
The historic Ghillies Ball is an annual occasion attended by the Royal Family as well as estate and castle staff, neighbours, and members of the local community.
The Queen would spend her summer at her Scottish getaway Balmoral and also enjoyed Scottish dancing (pictured at The Royal Caledonian Ball in Grosvenor House)
The royal was snapped at a square dance with Prince Philip in Canada in 1951 where the pair wore country-style dress
The engaged Elizabeth and Philip were pictured dancing publicly together for the first time at a ball at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh in 1947
The Queen famously danced the foxtrot with Ghana’s first president, President Kwame Nkrumah, in Ghana in 1961
The dance was a symbolic act after he appeared ready to reject the Commonwealth in favour of links with Soviet Russia
Rare footage released from a Ghillies Ball in the 1990s shows the Queen dancing the Eightsome Reel, a Scottish country dance, with Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Charles.
She has also been snapped joyfully dancing with her husband on many occasions, including at a square dance in Canada in 1951 where the pair wore country style dress.
But dancing for the Queen was also an act of diplomacy and she famously danced the foxtrot with Ghana’s first president, President Kwame Nkrumah, as a symbolic act, after he appeared ready to reject the Commonwealth in favour of links with Soviet Russia.
The monarch’s dance in Ghana in 1961 was significant as it was implied that, in return for the photo opportunity, dancing with the Queen, he would ‘return to the fold’ and turn his back on the Soviets.
Nkrumah was captivated by the monarch, later presenting Prince Charles with his one of his most prized boyhood gifts of a bow and quiver full of arrows.
Princess Margaret
It seemed that Princess Margaret enjoyed dancing as much as her older sister with her closest confidante Lady Anne Glenconner telling Lorraine that the princess even loved to dance to reggae music.
Princess Margaret was often pictured dancing with her husband Lord Snowdon who she later divorced (pictured at the Canadian Universities Ball)
The fun-loving princess was also spotted dancing with her husband at a ball in aid of Barnardo’s at the Tower of London
The glamorous pair dressed up for a night of dancing at the Georgian Ball at Mansion House
The royal was seen enjoying Scottish dancing, like her sister, and was pictured performing a highland reel at the Royal Caledonian Ball in London in 1983
The fun-loving sister of the Queen was always spotted dancing at social events, often on the arm of her husband Lord Snowdon who she later divorced.
She was also seen enjoying Scottish dancing, just like her sister, and was snapped dancing a highland reel at the Royal Caledonian Ball in London.
Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice was snapped being whisked around the floor at a ball in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity in 2013
Princess Beatrice has shown she can’t resist letting her hair down when she hears the right song and was spotted boogying along with her sister to a live performance of Celine Dion at British Summer Time Hyde Park festival in 2019.
But her moves have also proven themselves to be more flamboyan. She was snapped being being whisked around the floor at a ball in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity in 2013.
While not quite as enthusiastic as her dungaree-clad dance partner, Beatrice managed a big smile as she was dipped and twirled on the otherwise empty dancefloor.
Beatrice was spotted boogying along with her sister to a live performace of Celine Dion at British Summer Time Hyde Park festival in 2019
She managed a big smile as she was dipped and twirled on the otherwise empty dancefloor at the Adventure in Wonderland Ball in 2013
The princess has loved ballet from a young age and was pictured with mother Sarah Ferguson and her younger sister Princess Eugenie in bright purple tutus
Her dancing skills are perhaps not as surprising after learning that the princess has love ballet since a young age, with reports saying she has kept up her passion as a way to keep fit in recent years.
In 1999, the then-11-year-old Beatrice performed at her own winter show and was pictured with her little sister Eugenie and their mum Sarah Ferguson leaving in bright purple tutus.
Queen Maxima
Despite having a background in business before becoming a royal, Argentinian-born Queen Maxima of The Netherlands also has a natural talent for dancing.
Argentinian-born Queen Maxima of The Netherlands has a natural talent for dancing (pictured at a festival in Aruba earlier this year)
Joining in at the Bon Bini Festival earlier this year, the royal shook her hips and boogied along in time to the music
Maxima wowed crowds in Aruba as she held hands with one of the dancers and showed off her best moves
Queen Maxima had also impressed onlookers when she joined in with samba dancing while visiting Brazil in 2012
The royal showed her natural rhythm as she boogied with a dancer at the Jockey Club in Sao Paulo
Queen Maxima looked natural as she danced alongside her husband King Willem-Alexander during a visit to the Caribbean in 2013
The royal wowed crowds in Aruba while on a tour to the Caribbean with her husband King Willem-Alexander and their daughter Princess Catharina-Amalia as she showed off her impressive moves.
Joining in at the Bon Bini Festival earlier this year, she shook her hips and boogied along in time to the music as she held hands with one of the dancers.
She also stole the spotlight in Brazil when she showed off her sleek samba moves while on a five-day visit to the country with her husband in 2012.
King Willem-Alexander tried to keep up and speaking about her husband’s dancing skills, Maxima once said: ‘I keep trying to push him. His hips are a little rigid.’
Prince Albert II of Monaco
Despite his position of nobility, Prince Albert has shown he can’t resist boogying along to pop classics just like everyone else.
To celebrate ten years on the throne in 2015, Robbie Williams performed a live show at Monaco Palace and Prince Albert was spotted dad dancing to his greatest hits alongside his wife Princess Charlene.
Prince Albert has shown he can’t resist boogying at a concert and was pictured dancing to Iggy Pop with his wife Charlene and sister Caroline
Prince Albert was spotted dad dancing to Robbie Williams’ greatest hits alongside his wife Princess Charlene during a concert at Monaco Palace
Wearing black tie, he shimmied as he arrived at an FIA Formula dinner in Marrakech in 2016
He was also pictured dancing with his wife, Princess Charlene at The White Feather Foundation Charity Ball in 2013
But the displays of fun don’t stop there as the royal also bopped along to the sound of Iggy Pop with Charlene and his sister Princess Caroline at an open-air concert in Monaco a few days earlier.
In rather different circumstances, the prince has often taken to the dancefloor in black tie.
He was seen shimmying as he arrived for a gala dinner in Morocco as well as dancing with a glamorous Charlene at The White Feather Foundation Charity Ball in 2013.
… And just to show it was no fluke
Sophie, Countess of Wessex jives with TV judge Rob Rinder in Guernsey last year
Sophie, then Countess of Wessex, made it abundantly clear how well she moves in 2022, when she attended a Liberation Day Tea Dance on Guernsey. She jived to Puttin’ On The Ritz with TV judge Robert Rinder.