Taylor Swift kicked off the London leg of her Eras Tour at a sold-out Wembley stadium on Friday evening, performing to fans, celebrities and politicians alike.
In amongst the crowd of nearly 90,000 fans, rumour has it that Prince William celebrated his 42nd birthday dancing the night away with his three young children – Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – although Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Prince William and megastar Swift have a history – the unlikely pair shared the stage at Kensington Palace to perform Livin’ On A Prayer with Jon Bon Jovi at a charity event in 2013.
Although this performance took place more than a decade ago, it would appear the royals have continued to be committed fans of Swift.
The military band at Buckingham Palace performed a rendition of Swift’s 2014 hit Shake It Off to mark the Eras Tour arriving in the UK capital.
The crowd hold up flashlights on their phones as Taylor Swift takes to the Wembley stage
Swift, 34, wore a ballgown as she sang her hit Enchanted at Wembley Stadium
The American singer performed in front of 90,000 fans including celebrities and politicians
It is one of eight performances to take place in London as part of the Eras Tour
The singer wears a white corseted dress with her lyrics scrawled across it
Swift performs alongside 15 dancers and four backup singers
The singer wore a sparkling blue and orange number during her Eras Tour concert
Swift wore a bezazzled blue bodysuit to reflect her Midnights era
The singer was surrounded by feathers as she sang for the massive crowd
Taylor Swift (left) and Prince William (right) perform Livin’ On A Prayer with singer Jon Bon Jovi at a 2013 charity event in Kensington Palace
The night was made even more memorable for Ms Swift, 34, as she was reunited with her boyfriend Travis Kelce after a month apart.
The American football player, 34, flew in from Cannes with his older brother, Jason.
Ms Swift and Kelce, who are nearing their first anniversary, have not been seen together for over a month after they last enjoyed a romantic lunch on Lake Como, Italy, in May.
The Kansas City Chiefs star has so far been unable to support his girlfriend on the UK leg of her tour due to training commitments.
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, 34, was among the star-studded crowd who joined Kelce in the VIP area alongside Swift’s close friend, model-turned-actress Cara Delevingne.
American hairstylist Jonathan van Ness, more commonly known as JVN, posted videos of the glitzy night featuring actress Salma Hayek.
Another familiar face in the crowd was Labour leader Keir Starmer who said in a post on X that he took a ‘Swift campaign pitstop’ to enjoy the concert with his wife.
Ms Swift was clearly overwhelmed by the 89,000-strong crowd and said: ‘Oh my god London, look what you’ve done. What better way to spend a Friday night than in the most exhilarating city in the world.’
Her first show in London was always going to be special for her as she shares a close affiliation with the city after she called it her second home for the six years she was dating British actor Joe Alwyn.
Ms Swift has also dated several British heartthrobs including singer Harry Styles and actor Tom Hiddleston.
June 21 was the first of three sold out dates at Wembley, with the international sensation returning in August to perform another five.
Travis Kelce arrives at Wembley Stadium to watch his girlfriend Taylor Swift perform to 90,000 adoring fans
Travis Kelce was spotted smiling and singing along with Taylor at the concert
Screens show a live video of Swift so even fans in the furthest away seats can enjoy the show
The pop princess has kicked off her London Eras Tour residency
Today is the first of three sold out dates at Wembley, with the international sensation returning in August to perform another five
Swift wears a blue and gold sparkling bodysuit as she takes to the stage at Wembley
The singer wears a berry-red dress as she performs songs from recent albums Folklore and Evermore
Taylor looked overwhelmed by the sheer number of fans at Wembley stadium
Sir Keir Starmer and his wife pictured at the Era’s Tour in Wembley
Starmer wrote on X: ”Swift’ campaign pitstop’
Around 90,000 fans have packed out Wembley Stadium
The audience watch Taylor Swift perform her extensive set list at Wembley Stadium
Fans film Taylor as she takes to the stage in London
Fans wearing cowboy hats sing along to Taylor
The singer, 34, is performing at Wembley Stadium as part of The Eras Tour
Swift, known for her black eyeliner and red lip, performs to fans in London tonight
Taylor Swift performs in a blue and gold bodysuit with bedazzled cowboy boots
Taylor changes outfits 16 times throughout her performance
A dancer helps Taylor get changed into a black sparkling blazer
Swift performs her song The Man to around 90,000 fans at Wembley stadium
Swift performs with an entourage of 15 dancers and four backup singers
Jason Kelce shows off his friendship bracelets at Wembley
Nicola Coughlan trades friendship bracelets with fellow Swifties from the VIP tent
Model Cara Delevinge (left) attends Swift’s concert in the VIP box alongside Nicola Coughlan (right)
She had an outfit change to a black dress with silver and gold tassels and black sparkly boots
Taylor with a blue guitar and sparkling boots at Wembley tonight
Taylor Swift performs onstage during ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour’ at Wembley Stadium tonight
Taylor’s adoring fans were brimming with anticipation to know if she would perform any of her London-inspired hit songs.
Fans predicted that the American megastar would choose a London-themed tune as her surprise song.
Many hoped for Swift’s more melancholy hits such as ‘So Long, London’ and ‘The Black Dog’ from her recent album The Tortured Poets Department.
As the sparkling night drew to a close, the star sang Hits Different and Death by a Thousand Cuts – both of which have no reference to the English capital city.
But fans went wild when Taylor took to the piano and began singing her recent hit The Black Dog, as many predicted she would.
‘The Black Dog’ is largely believed to be about 1975 singer, Matty Healy, who she reportedly had a brief two week relationship with following her break-up with Alwyn.
The lyrics seemingly reference a Vauxhall pub, as well as band The Starting Line – whose songs The 1975 have covered several times during their tour.
Fans went wild when Taylor took to the piano and began singing her recent hit The Black Dog, as many predicted she would
At each concert, the singer performs a selection of surprise songs on both her guitar and piano
Swift took to the stage at Wembley, changing outfits multiple times throughout the three-hour long show
Swift sings with a bedazzled guitar – embossed with the number 13
Swift kisses her bicep as she teases the crowd at Wembley Stadium
The 34-year-old is known for hit songs such as Cruel Summer and Love Story
Taylor waves her red cape at Wembley while performing her three-hour long set list
Swift plays multiple instruments throughout the night including the guitar
Wembley was awash with sparkling outfits, cowboy hats, gemstones and glitter as thousands of Taylor Swift fans gathered for her opening night in London.
Swifties travelled from across the country for the latest sell-out performance of her Eras Tour.
Teenage girls and boys were joined by mums, dads and younger siblings – and fans of all ages – ahead of the three-and-a-half hour gig, that has already blown the roofs off stadiums across Britain and Europe.
Devoted followers sang the lyrics of her many hits word-perfect that were blasted out at the Taylor Swift fan zone at the BoxPark Wembley on the Olympic Walk up to the stadium entrance.
Fans exchanged bracelets and discussed their favourite tunes ahead of the big event. Others joined long queues to buy official merchandise – t-shirts, sweat-shirts, hats and bags.
Among them were sisters Amna, 14, and Zainab Butt, 20, from west London.
Amna told how would not have missed this concert for anything in the world.
She said: ‘It’s Taylor Swift it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.’
Zainab, a student, added: ‘This is going to be the best night of my life.’
Amelie Jones, 28, Lucy Goodwin, 28 and Caroline parish, 28 from Sussex.
Explaining what this concert meant to her Amelie said: ‘Taylor Swift has a ding her every occasion.
Lucy added: ‘I have grown up with Taylor Swift. She has been there with me through all the heartbreaks.’
Swift, 34, performs songs from her album Red in a glittering ombre bodysuit
The singer wears a shirt that said: ‘Who’s Taylor Swift anyway? Ew’
Taylor talks to a young fan before giving her the famous 22 hat during the concert
Taylor gives her hat to a fan during the first London concert of The Eras Tour at Wembley
The fan looks delighted to receive the gift from the mega-star
The fan and Taylor hug each other during the hit song 22
Taylor kicks off her long setlist with songs from her Lover era
The singer then features hits from her early album entitled Fearless
Around 90,000 Swifties have swarmed to Wembley Stadium to watch the pop icon as part of her Eras Tour
As she started her three-hour long set, Taylor Swift said: ‘You’re making me feel like tonight I get to play my first sold out show at Wembley Stadium on The Eras Tour!’
She added: ‘There are 88.446 people in this stadium today.’
Thousands of Swifties have begun to descend in their droves ahead of the pop princess’ first London Eras concert
One fan was spotted wearing a disco ball hat and silver shirt ahead of the concert – a nod to Swift’s song Mirrorball
Fans pose outside Wembley Stadium before the first London concert of the Eras Tour
Cowboy hats and boots seem to be a staple for the American singer’s concert
Taylor’s number one fans – Cath, Maddy and Niamh – pose outside Wembley Stadium ahead of the concert
Fans hold an ‘I love Taylor’ banner ahead of the concert. The men of the group wear Travis Kelce’s 87 jersey
Fans dress up in outfits corresponding to Swift’s ‘eras’ or albums including Reputation, Lover and Folklore
Other fans wear pink feather boas as they make their way to the stadium
One fan wears a ruffled purple dress to watch Taylor Swift
A trio of friends arrive at Wembley ahead of the Taylor Swift concert
Families and university friends got together to watch Taylor Swift’s first London performance.
Mum Jackie brought her 18-year-old daughter Eva and three friends from Bath to attend the concert.
She said: ‘We won the battle to get Taylor Swift tickets and now we’re here!’
Dad Ed, 51, from Blackheath, put on his best party shirt to accompany his wife Tina and their 11-year-old daughter Odette to the show.
Birmingham university Poppy, 27, Hannah, 26, Rachel, 26 and Joanna, 26 used the occasion to get back together – and to wear matching Taylor Swift t-shirts.
Rachel explained: ‘We all love Taylor Swift and we just can’t wait for the show.’
Nottingham university friends Harriet, 26, Heidi, 26, Nicole, 26 and Jade, 26 said they had met up especially for the concert.
Harriet said: ‘it’s going to be a fantastic night, a fantastic performance.’
A fan recreates the ringmaster outfit Swift wore at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards. She also has friendship bracelets tied to her waist to hand out at the concert
Stairs near Wembley have been decorated with the singer’s face
One fan wears a golden dress and poses with her hand in a heart shape ahead of the concert
A fan carries a Kermit toy wearing a shirt with the words ‘Kermit is my boyfriend’, a play on Swift’s lyrics ‘Karma is my boyfriend’
Three friends dressed in all-white wear veils with Swift’s lyrics on them
German tourists Camille, 29, Julia, 28, Malena, 27 and Lena 27 had flown over especially from Bremen for the show.
Camille explained: ‘We came to see the Queen of music.’
Teenagers Evie Mulcahi, 18, Jess Dobson 19 Frankie Epsom, 19, and Katie Mayling had come from Derby to take part in this highly anticipated event.
Evie said: ‘Taylor Swift is simply the best. She gets all different people together to have a good time. And she’s so cool.’
Becky Colton, 28 and Alice Parkinson, 28 had come from Nottingham for the show.
Becky explained: Taylor Swift is an icon. This is history.’
Best friends Charlotte Harris, 29 and Sophie Wayman, 31 from Essex explained how they had dreamed to seeing Taylor Swift together.
Charlotte said: ‘We’ve been friends all our lives and we always dreamed of going to see a Taylor Swift concert together.’
It has become a tradition for Swifties to trade friendship bracelets at the Eras Tour as a nod to a lyric from the nostalgic anthem You’re On Your Own Kid.
Taylor sings: ‘So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.’
A collection of friendship bracelets made by Swifties in preparation for the concert
A fan hands out friendship bracelets at the Taylor Swift concert at Wembley
Fans exchange friendship bracelets ahead of the performance
Fans have hand decorated white shirts with odes to their pop icon Taylor Swift
A fan wears a version of Swift’s bedazzled Lover bodysuit while her friend snaps pictures
A fan wears a pink silk pyjama set with feathers
A pair of fans wear crowns and a sash that reads ‘Heartbreak Prince’ referring to Swift’s song ‘Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince’ from her 2019 album Lover
A father shows his support for his Taylor-obsessed daughter by wearing a ‘Swiftie Dad’ t-shirt
One fan carries a sign that reads ’16 years of eras with you’ next to a picture of her as a youngster with Taylor Swift
Two girls hug as they approach Wembley Stadium ahead of the Taylor Swift concert
A fan gets glittered in preparation for The Eras Tour
A group of friends pose outside Wembley Stadium – with two dressed in black to reflect Swift’s iconic Reputation era
A fan waves her ticket in the air as she struts towards the venue
Two Swifties spin around outside Wembley hours before Swift takes to the stage
Many fans arrived as early as Tuesday in preparation for today’s concert, lying under blankets and camping out in tents for several days.
More of the 90,000 strong crowd made their way to the arena today, with those who forked out for VIP packages getting to head into Wembley at 8am.
Others travelled from across the globe to just watch Swift deliver her blockbuster three-hour set in London tonight.
Among those venturing across countries to see Taylor are long-distance friends Filip and Bailey, who made separate journeys all the way from Croatia and Florida respectively.
Speaking about why they had come to London, Bailey: ‘I can’t wait to see Taylor, this is like the best show to go to.’
Filip added: ‘It feels special, dazzling and magic here.’
Meanwhile, friends Rachel and Yan travelled from Ipswich in Suffolk to catch a glimpse of Taylor taking to the stage.
Swiftmania has truly gripped Wembley as fans eagerly prepare to see their idol in person
Three Swifties all smiles as they head to Wembley stadium
Fans gathering outside Wembley today donning Taylor Swift inspired clothing
Many were all smiles as they headed in to see the American singer-songwriter
Inspired by Taylor’s Lover era, two fans rocked up to Wembley with pink cowboy hats and sparkling tops
Fans queuing outside Wembley Stadium in London, ahead of Taylor Swift’s first London concert
Fans make friendship bracelets as they wait to enter Wembley Stadium
A fan waiting outside the Eras Tour today with their own custom t-shirt for the show
Three girls wear personalised pink heart sunglasses that read ‘The Eras Tour – London N1’
One American Swiftie uses a white cowboy hat to show off how far she has come for the concert
Rachel said: ‘We’re so excited to be here, I’m hoping to hear the original songs from the first album.’
Alongside wanting to hear tracks from Swift’s 2006 self-titled debut, the pair said they were particularly looking forward to hearing hits from her second 2008 album Fearless.
Megan, 26, who hails from Birmingham said it was ‘amazing’ as she prepared to see the star.
She told the Evening Standard: ‘It’s amazing to be here. Taylor is such a great example of female empowerment. I love country music and that’s how I got into her.
‘I’m just so excited to be here. It was like a war to get tickets online but now I’m here it’s all worth it.’
Luna Musch, who travelled from the Netherlands added: ‘I can’t believe I’m here – I love her and her music. She is so positive. Her talent is just incredible.’
The doors at Wembley officially opened at 4.30pm, with Mette and Paramore taking to the stage from 5.45pm before Taylor at 7.30pm.
Fans dotted throughout the UK have been waiting over a year for Taylor to arrive on British shores after she began her record-breaking tour in Glendale, Arizona in March 2023.
Singer Mette takes to the stage ahead of Taylor Swift
The Mama’s Eyes singer wore sparkling shorts and showed off her dance moves on stage
Hayley Williams of Paramore took to the stage at Wembley before Taylor
The American rock band is famous for the songs Still Into You, Ain’t It Fun and Hard Times
Fans have travelled far and wide to see the international sensation with some travelling from as far as America
Four fans proudly wearing ‘I love Taylor’ t-shirts make their way to the concert
A group of girls patiently sitting as they wait for Wembley Stadium doors to open today
One young lady seemingly making a nod to Taylor’s NFL beau Travis Kelce – wearing his Kansas City Cheifs jersey (left)
Others were screaming with excitement as more people gathered outside the venue
Two superfans get ready for the concert at Wembley Stadium by taking a photo on Olympic Walk
A fan of Taylor Swift poses in front of a painting on the steps near Wembley Stadium
Another Swiftie poses in front of a Taylor Swift mural at Wembley Park
Swifties take a selfie outside the stadium while wearing pink cowboy hats
A trio of Swifties head to the concert in their sparkling outfits
One Young Swiftie and her mother wait for the concert to begin in their Taylor Swift themed outfits
Since she has ventured across South America, US and Asia, whilst also performing in several cities across Europe, with her NFL boyfriend Travis Kelce supporting from the crowd.
This month alone, she has already sang to packed out crowds in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Cardiff.
However, the superstar’s 100th show of her record-breaking Eras Tour last Thursday at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool didn’t quite go off without a hitch.
The international pop sensation hailed the commitment to the countless fans who braved the rain to catch a glimpse of her landmark show.
And while the 53,000 crowd packed into Anfield stadium to cheer along to her greatest hits for three hours – not everyone left completely satisfied.
Certain VIP ticketholders were left briefly disgruntled after paying to sit behind a white tent – largely blocking the view of their beloved idol.
And poor VIP seat placements weren’t the only mishap of the night as eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot the huge screen showcasing Taylor’s performance had momentarily switched off.
A fan wears Travis Kelce’s jersey complete with a helmet
Two Swifties proudly holding up their lengthy Eras Tour banner
Others have gone to the arduous task of making several friendship bracelets – a distinctive tradition within Taylor’s fanbase
Two fans showing off their array of friendship bracelets
One fan held up a QR quote in a plea for help with her dissertation about Taylor Swift
Some concertgoers were all sparkles as they headed into Wembley today
Although they are slightly more casual, these three concertgoers were still brimming with excitment
Two women wearing sparkly red outfits inspired by Taylor’s famed Red album
One Swiftie in a sparkly pink blazer dress
Two friends in Taylor inspired outfits from her Red and Folklore eras
A cheery group of four on their way to sing with Taylor for three hours
A scarf reads ‘London Loves Taylor’
However, London is still overcome with Swiftmania, as a military band performed Shake It Off in celebration of the popstar’s arrival to the city
However, London is still overcome with Swiftmania, as a military band at Buckingham Palace performed a rendition her smash-hit Shake It Off today.
In celebration of Taylor’s arrival to London, a video titled Changing of the Guard (Taylor’s Version), was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Royal family’s official account.
The band stood on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace blasting trumpets, saxophones and other wind instruments, as the caption read: ‘Can’t stop, won’t stop groovin’.’
Taylor-fever has already gripped the bustling, with a host of special events taking over London, such as a Taylor trail, a special Tube map and even two new Swift-themed artworks on display at Wembley Park.
