The track was originally released as a solo version on Sheeran’s fifth studio album “=“ (Equals) in October 2021.
Sheeran surprised fans on Tuesday night when he dropped a new rendition of the track, a duet featuring vocals from friend and former collaborator Taylor Swift.
A music video accompanying the duet dropped on YouTube the same night, reuniting the lookalike child actors who portrayed Sheeran and Swift in the music video for their 2012 duet “Everything Has Changed”.
The video for “The Joker and The Queen” reintroduced the elementary school sweethearts Jack and Ava after ten years. The pair, now in college, maintain their striking resemblance to Sheeran and Swift.
Sheeran announced the duet on his Instagram, writing: "Me and Taylor first met and wrote + recorded our first song together in 2012, ten years ago now, I'm so so honored to have her on this song.
"Not only is she the best singer/songwriter in the world but she's also a very close friend, I'm very lucky to have her in my life.
"For the music video we got the kids from our song Everything Has Changed, all grown up and off to college now!”
Swift later took to Instagram to drop a clip from the music video on her Instagram Story alongside the caption: "Congrats @teddyphotos!! This video makes me think of our friendship all these years... also can't believe Jack & Ava from the Everything Has Changed video came back and did this!! Nostalgic heaven!"
“The Joker and The Queen” marks the duo’s fourth collaboration following “Everything Has Changed” in 2012, “End Game” in 2017, and “Run (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021.
In other news, Sheeran took home the award for songwriter of the Year at the 2022 BRIT awards on Tuesday, where he performed his solo rendition of “The Joker and The Queen” as well as his single “Bad Habits” accompanied by rock band Bring Me The Horizon.
