William sings with Bon Jovi and Swift at charity event

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Media caption,

The Duke of Cambridge joined Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift on stage

The Duke of Cambridge has surprised guests at a Kensington Palace charity event by performing alongside US singers Jon Bon Jovi and Taylor Swift.

He joined the stars to sing Bon Jovi's 1980s hit Livin' on a Prayer at the gala for homeless charity Centrepoint.

Dressed in full dinner suit, Prince William took to the stage during the finale of the Winter Whites Gala.

Earlier, he met young people Centrepoint has supported through housing and other opportunities.

The evening began with Prince William meeting Bon Jovi and Swift in the Kings Gallery at the palace's State Apartments.

The duke has a long association with Centrepoint and as a child was taken on private visits to the charity's hostels by his mother, Diana Princess of Wales.

Image caption,

Jon Bon Jovi was presented with the Centrepoint Great Britain Youth Inspiration Award

He has been a patron of the charity since September 2005.

And he presented the Centrepoint Great Britain Youth Inspiration Award to Bon Jovi for his humanitarian work.

Bon Jovi founded Soul Foundation in the US in 2006 which aims to break the cycle of people falling into poverty and homelessness.

The rock star told the guests: "Nights like this happen once in a lifetime but the chance to effect change can last a lifetime. Each one of you tonight have that chance to effect change."

Swift, who performed her hits Trouble, Love Story and 15 at the event, said she was honoured to take part.

"This is my first time playing at Kensington Palace or any palace for that matter," she said.

She added it was important the gala concert was supporting at-risk youth, who were dealing with more than most people were at what was already a difficult age.

Other guests at the event included the actor Benedict Cumberbatch, and singers James Blunt and Tinie Tempah.

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