PRINCE William has revealed the unlikely song that revs him up for the week — AC/DC’s head-banging anthem Thunderstruck.
Wills also tells how his three children enjoy “dancing, messing around and singing”, squabble over what music to play but love Colombian singer Shakira.
And he recalls the moment he “felt like a puppy” with superstars Taylor Swift and Jon Bon Jovi.
Speaking in new Apple Fitness+ podcast Time to Walk, the duke says of Aussie rockers AC/DC’s 1990 hit Thunderstruck: “There’s nothing better on a Monday morning, when you’re bleary-eyed after the weekend and trying to get back into the grind of the week.
“It wakes you up, puts you in the best mood possible, and you feel like you can take on anything and anyone.
“I’d imagine you’re going to walk quite fast listening to it, maybe with a skip in your step, with the head-banging.
“It’s a difficult song not to dance to or to nod along to.”
On the podcast’s countryside stroll, Wills tells how son Louis, three, is “obsessed” with tractors.
And he describes a “clamour for music” at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, where he and Kate raise George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis.
He adds: “One of the songs that the children are loving at the moment is Shakira’s Waka Waka.
“There’s a lot of hip movements going on, a lot of dressing up.
“Charlotte, particularly, is running around the kitchen in her dresses and ballet stuff.
“She goes completely crazy with Louis following her around trying to do the same. It’s a really happy moment where the children just enjoy dancing, messing around, and singing.”
Amused Wills also describes the “massive fight” between Charlotte and George as to what song gets played in the morning.
He said: “I have to prioritise so George gets his go, then Charlotte gets her go. Such is the clamour for the music.”
Meanwhile, fun-loving William confessed he felt like a puppy after Taylor Swift convinced him to perform karaoke with her and Jon Bon Jovi at a charity gala.
He said he walked on stage in November 2013 “in a trance” before realising he did not know the words to the Bon Jovi hit Livin’ On A Prayer.
‘GO ON AND HAVE A LAUGH’
But he carried on belting out the song at a Kensington Palace fundraiser for homeless charity Centrepoint, saying he thought: “Sod it. I can’t be the doofus.”
Footage of the encounter still exists online and Wills tells the podcast: “It’s okay to not take yourself too seriously and have those moments where you let go and you just go, ‘Do you know what? I’m okay with this’.
“So, yeah, go on and have a laugh. And don’t go and watch the video of me singing. Or do go and watch it, but just laugh to yourself about how I was feeling.”
Footage shows Jon Bon Jovi strumming his guitar saying: “Just maybe the karaoke kid could come up and sing a couple of words.”
To rapturous applause Wills dressed in black tie then appears on stage with Taylor.
Taking up the tale, the duke says: “I can’t believe I’m actually telling this story.
“I went to a charity fundraising gala for Centrepoint, which is a young homeless charity that I am very fond of and have supported for many years.
“It’s an annual fundraiser, and I turn up, and Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift are at the event, which nearly knocked me off my feet as well.
“I went inside, met everybody, a lot of handshaking to do those nights, a lot of chatting.
“I try and be charming and interactive.
“Occasionally, you’re not having a good day, and it’s a little harder to come by.
‘I’M CRINGING’
“When I sat down to watch Jon Bon Jovi do his performance, I thought, “That’s it. My job is done.
“I’ll get a dinner in a minute, and I might be able to have a chat to some people, and, you know, I’m off-duty a little bit now.
“Little did I think what was going to happen next. I’m sat next to Taylor Swift. She’s on my left.
“And after Jon does his first song, there’s a pause, and Taylor turns to me.
“She puts her hand on my arm, looks me in the eye, and says, ‘Come on, William. Let’s go and sing.’
“To this day, I still do not know what came over me.
“Honestly, even now I’m cringing at what happened next, and I don’t understand why I gave in.
“But, frankly, if Taylor Swift looks you in the eye, touches your arm, and says, ‘Come with me . . . ’
“So I got up like a puppy and went, ‘Yeah, okay, that seems like a great idea. I’ll follow you.’
“I walked up on stage in a trance, and then sort of halfway through Livin’ On A Prayer I wake up.
“And I’m thinking to myself, ‘Am I standing on the stage singing Livin’ On A Prayer when I don’t even know the words?”
In the footage, the trio’s impromptu performance sends the crowd — which included stars Colin Firth, Tinie Tempah and Benedict Cumberbatch — wild asWills looks nervous but gives it his best effort.
‘I CAN’T BE THE DOOFUS’
He became the charity’s patron earlier that year following on from work carried out by his mother Princess Diana.
He adds in the podcast: “The Centrepoint young guys and girls were there all loving it and cheering away.
“So I thought, ‘Well, if they’re enjoying it, then the night is for them. So sod it. I can’t be the doofus who’s going to ruin it for everyone.
“And so I desperately try and remember some of the words and sing as hard as I can.
“Beneath my black tie, there was a lot of sweating going on.
“I felt like a swan, where I was trying to keep myself composed on the outside, but inside, the little legs are paddling fast.
“Now, a lot of people might think that I’m comfortable on stage. When I do speeches and things like that, I’ve done so many now, they’re not a problem. But I’ve not done singing.”
Referring to his mental health, William added: “At times, when you’re taken out of your comfort zone, you’ve got to roll with it.
“And I think we’ve got to the stage in this life where we do micromanage ourselves.
“We do worry about: How do we look on social media? Who said what about me? What am I wearing?
“There are so many pressures, but I think making a fool of yourself and not taking yourself too seriously is okay.”
MUM DI HAD US SINGING TO TINA
PRINCESS Diana used to sing along with William and Harry to Tina Turner as she drove them to boarding school.
Prince William described one of his fondest childhood memories — revealing even their royal protection police officer was made to join in.
And he still “secretly enjoys” Tina’s hit The Best as it reminds him of a touching family moment with his younger brother and late mother.
On his Apple Fitness+ podcast, he said: “When I listen to it now, it takes me back to those car rides and brings back lots of memories of my mother.
“When Harry and I were at boarding school, my mother used to play all sorts of songs to kind of while away the anxiety of going back.
“One of the songs I massively remember and has stuck with me all this time, and I still, to this day, quite enjoy secretly, is Tina Turner’s The Best — because sitting in the back seat, singing away, it felt like a real family moment.
“And my mother, she’d be driving along, singing at the top of her voice. We’d even get the policeman in the car, he’d be occasionally singing along, as well.”
The fun would continue right up to the school gates where the boys were dropped off to spend days and nights away from their family.
Wills added: “And, that’s when reality sunk in, that you really were going back to school because before that, you’re lost in songs.”
