Prince William Leaves Robert Irwin Mortified With Cheeky Underwear Joke On The Graham Norton Show

Prince William had Robert Irwin struggling to keep his composure after delivering a cheeky one-liner about the young wildlife expert’s underwear photoshoot, creating one of the funniest moments of his historic appearance on The Graham Norton Show.

The Prince of Wales made television history on Friday, 23 October, becoming the first royal to appear on the BBC chat show. His arrival on the famous red sofa, alongside Cate Blanchett, Hannah Waddingham and Irwin, prompted gasps and cheers from the studio audience.

But it did not take long for William to prove that he was more than comfortable among the celebrity guests. Throughout the pre-recorded episode, he showed off a surprisingly playful side, leaving his fellow guests in stitches and earning widespread praise from viewers for his natural humour and impeccable timing.

One particularly memorable exchange involved Irwin, 22, the son of late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin, and a revealing photoshoot he had undertaken for Australian underwear brand Bonds in April 2025.

Robert Irwin Turns Red As His Underwear Photoshoot Appears On Screen

The campaign featured Irwin posing in his boxers alongside several animals, including a snake and a spider. While the shoot was designed to promote the underwear brand, Irwin also wanted to use the opportunity to draw attention to wildlife conservation.

However, revisiting the images with the future King sitting beside him was clearly not something he had anticipated.

As the photographs appeared on screen, Irwin admitted: “I can’t believe I’m looking at these with Prince William.”

He explained that although the campaign was an underwear advertisement, he had deliberately tried to give it a deeper purpose.

“It was an underwear commercial, obviously, but I wanted to kind of create a conversation element to it,” he said.

Irwin went on to explain that he wanted to reach people who might not typically engage with wildlife conservation, using an unexpected platform to bring the subject to a wider audience.

“I believe in bringing the message to an audience that might not ordinarily be in that world,” he added.

His explanation prompted laughter from the audience, particularly when he turned his attention back to the animal featured in one of the photographs.

“What matters to me is the snake in that image; it’s the face that wildlife was showcased,” he said.

Despite his efforts to steer the conversation towards conservation, the discussion soon drifted towards the animals themselves, particularly the spiders.

Prince William’s One-Liner Sends Irwin Tumbling Across The Sofa

Just when the conversation appeared to be moving on, William delivered a remark that caught Irwin completely off guard.

“I’m still thinking about your python,” the Prince quipped.

The comment sent Irwin collapsing sideways across the sofa as the studio audience erupted into cheers and laughter. The other guests were left in stitches, while William’s perfectly timed intervention quickly became one of the episode’s standout moments.

The exchange also offered a glimpse of the relaxed, self-deprecating personality that viewers rarely get to see during the Prince’s more formal royal engagements.

Social media users were quick to praise his appearance, with many highlighting how naturally he handled the humorous exchanges.

One viewer wrote: “You’ve got to appreciate Prince William’s comedic timing, because it’s genuinely perfect. The delivery, the timing, everything. I mean, the man is funny, OKAY?”

Another praised his willingness to poke fun at himself, commenting: “It really is that he doesn’t take himself too seriously in public. He’s just the right amount of cheeky and self-deprecating. Prince William took the best parts of his mum and the Queen.”

A third viewer was equally impressed, writing: “HRH Prince William was absolutely fantastic on the Graham Norton show…he was a natural… and very funny at times.”

Another fan went a step further, suggesting that the appearance was doing wonders for the monarchy’s public image: “Prince William is doing amazing things for the image of the Royal Family. I love it!”

William Also Reveals The Funny Reason Someone Mistook Him For A Singer

The underwear joke was not the only moment that gave viewers a different perspective on the Prince of Wales.

During the show, William also addressed his viral selfie with Taylor Swift and shared an amusing story about an encounter in Somerset, where someone failed to recognise him.

Despite being one of the most recognisable public figures in the world, William revealed that such mix-ups happen to him “quite regularly”.

He recalled visiting a local community in Somerset when a man sitting nearby looked up at him and asked: “When are you going to sing?”

Initially confused, William said he had received plenty of requests from people across different walks of life over the years, but this particular question left him puzzled.

“I’ve had many requests over many years from all ranging parts of society, and I said, ‘I’m sorry, what do you mean?’” he recalled.

The man then clarified what he wanted to see, asking when William would perform his song. It was only when a woman sitting behind him tapped the man’s arm and intervened that the misunderstanding became clear.

“No, no, he’s not that prince,” she told him.

William explained that the man had mistaken him for someone else and was hoping to hear him perform Prince’s hit song Purple Rain.

Laughing about the encounter, the Prince admitted that he would have struggled to meet the request anyway.

“It turned out he wanted me to sing ‘Purple Rain’, which I don’t know the lyrics for.”

Between his unexpected appearance, his playful exchange with Irwin and the story of his accidental musical mix-up, William gave viewers plenty to talk about. His appearance on The Graham Norton Show proved a memorable departure from the traditional royal setting, with fans particularly taken by his willingness to laugh at himself.