Prince William Has Become a “Father Figure” to Robert Irwin as Their Unlikely Friendship Grows Stronger

Prince William has taken on a surprisingly personal role in Robert Irwin’s life, with the future King reportedly becoming something of a father figure and mentor to the young wildlife conservationist.

Their connection goes far beyond royal appearances and environmental campaigns. Despite a 22-year age difference and living on opposite sides of the world, William, 44, and Robert, 22, have developed a close bond that reportedly feels more like family than friendship.

And their recent appearance together on The Graham Norton Show, alongside Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham, offered another glimpse into their easy chemistry. The playful exchanges between the pair quickly became one of the night’s talking points.

According to an insider speaking to New Idea, there is a deeper reason behind their connection: both men know what it means to lose a parent at a young age.

“They’ve both had to deal with losing a parent at a young age and recognise the same unseen scars,” the source revealed.

William Has Become a Mentor to Robert

As a father of three, William has reportedly developed a naturally protective and paternal connection with Robert, making a point of being there for the young Australian whenever he can.

“As a father of three, William’s connection to Robert is fun-filled, energetic and naturally paternal, so he’s made a point of always being available for Robert, who couldn’t ask for a better mentor,” the insider explained.

Their friendship also brings out a more mischievous side of the usually reserved Prince of Wales.

During their appearance on The Graham Norton Show, host Graham Norton brought up a photograph from Robert’s revealing Bonds underwear campaign.

William wasted no time joining in with the teasing, joking: “I’m still thinking about your python.”

The remark left Robert visibly embarrassed, but it also highlighted just how comfortable the two have become around each other.

For William, the friendship may also offer something he has been missing for years: the easygoing, playful companionship of a younger brother.

“William misses the playful fun relationship he had with Harry, and Robert never had a brother, so it’s easy to see why these two are so drawn to each other,” the source added.

Robert Wants William and Kate Back in Australia

Robert is also reportedly keen to welcome William and his wife, Kate Middleton, back to Australia.

It has been more than a decade since the royal couple last visited the country, and their return remains something many Australians would love to see.

The possibility gained fresh attention after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended an invitation to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

However, William and Kate have yet to confirm their plans.

“William and Kate have yet to accept the Aussie PM’s invite, but Robert wants them down under just as much as any Aussie,” an insider previously told New Idea.

There is already another reason for the visit. William has reportedly promised to bring his children to the Irwin family’s zoo one day, and Robert apparently takes every opportunity to remind him of that commitment.

The royal couple reportedly consider Australia for a visit each year, but competing circumstances have repeatedly disrupted their plans. King Charles’s health has also been a significant factor preventing them from committing to a major overseas tour.

William Sends Robert a Special Message on Dancing With the Stars

Their friendship has continued to flourish through their shared commitment to environmental conservation.

Although they cannot meet frequently, William recently made a point of showing his support for Robert during the current season of Dancing with the Stars USA.

Robert, an ambassador for William’s Earthshot Prize, received a special video message from the Prince of Wales, who was in Brazil announcing the initiative’s latest winner.

“We’re missing you, Robert,” William said in the message shared on the show on November 12. “Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here.”

He then turned his attention to Robert’s dance partner, Witney Carson, adding: “You need to get him in as much glitter as you can.”

The message was another affectionate reminder of their friendship.

Robert also used the competition to pay tribute to his late father, Steve Irwin, dedicating a particularly emotional performance to the beloved Crocodile Hunter.

He chose Footprints In The Sand, the same song his sister, Bindi Irwin, performed when she competed on the show in 2015.

In a surprise moment, Bindi joined Robert on stage at the end of the routine. Together, they watched projections of childhood memories and photographs featuring their father.

The emotional performance earned Robert the first perfect score of the season: 40 out of 40.

Their Friendship Began With a Shared Passion for Conservation

While their personal connection has attracted attention, environmental conservation remains the foundation of their relationship.

Robert has repeatedly spoken about his admiration for William and the work he is doing through the Earthshot Prize, describing the future King as a major force for positive change.

In an interview with Us Weekly, Robert called William a “great guy” and praised the opportunity to work alongside him.

“It’s all about conservation. It’s wonderful that someone is so influential – that has such a fantastic platform – is using that to really better our environment,” Robert explained.

He went on to describe the Prince of Wales as a “true environmental hero.”

Their connection became particularly visible during the 2024 Earthshot Prize ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, where the pair reunited on November 6.

Robert had spoken exclusively to New Idea on the red carpet of the TikTok Awards on November 27, 2024, reflecting on the time they had spent together in Cape Town earlier that month.

“He is such a committed human being when it comes to conservation; he just gives it his all, and he really is just making a massive difference when it comes to the future of the planet,” Robert said.

“In a word, it was inspiring,” he added, reflecting on the awards.

At the ceremony, William and Robert were photographed laughing and chatting together, clearly enjoying each other’s company.

They even filmed a playful video for Robert’s Instagram account, discussing their favourite African animals. William picked the cheetah, while Robert chose the chameleon.

Why Robert Has Become Such an Important Part of Earthshot

William founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020 through his Royal Foundation charity, establishing an initiative designed to support innovative solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges.

Each year, five category winners receive £1 million in funding to help develop and expand their ideas, benefiting both the planet and the people who depend on it.

Robert first attended the event as a presenter in 2023, when the ceremony took place in Singapore.

The following year, he was named one of the inaugural Global Ambassadors for the Earthshot Prize, alongside Hollywood actor Nomzamo Mbatha.

At the time, Robert, then 20, expressed his pride in taking on the role.

“Alongside my family, I have dedicated my life to conservation. I am beyond proud to be an Earthshot Global Ambassador and to help progress its urgent and ambitious approach to finding the most innovative solutions to the world’s biggest environmental challenges,” he said in a statement.

He also described the annual awards as one of his favourite opportunities to celebrate environmental innovation, expressing excitement about helping bring Earthshot Week to life in Cape Town.

Robert’s involvement with the initiative dates back several years. At the 2023 Singapore event, he attended alongside his then-girlfriend Rorie Buckey, the niece of late Australian actor Heath Ledger.

He was also photographed meeting William, with the pair exchanging a handshake and sharing a laugh.

Their connection attracted further attention that November when Robert spoke to PEOPLE about the Prince’s environmental work.

He described William as “a real beacon to everyone in the conservation field,” praising his willingness to use his influence and resources to support meaningful change.

“It’s hard to put into words just how massive Earthshot is for wildlife conservation, for climate action, for the world. For Prince William, who has such a great platform, to lend his voice, his resources to creating positive change is such a refreshing, wonderful thing to see. I applaud what he is doing,” Robert told the publication.

The young conservationist also made no secret of how much he personally admired William.

“I have dedicated my life to wildlife conservation. I share that with Prince William, and I admire him greatly. He is certainly someone I look up to, and I hope I can create the same sort of change that he does. He is a real beacon to everyone in the conservation field,” he said.

For Robert, the relationship brings together two things that have shaped his life: his commitment to carrying on his father Steve’s conservation legacy and his admiration for someone using an extraordinary public platform to protect the planet.

And for William, a friendship built on shared values, family understanding and plenty of good-natured teasing appears to have become something genuinely special.

Their next reunion cannot come soon enough.