Robert Irwin is opening up about what it’s really like to work with royalty.
“I think Prince William has been such an amazing person to work with, and there is such an incredible synergy between what he does and who he is and who we are,” Irwin, 21, exclusively told Us Weekly before attending the Steve Irwin Gala in May, in honor of his late father Steve Irwin.
“It’s all about conservation,” Irwin continued. “I think it’s wonderful that someone so influential — that has such a fantastic platform — is using that to really better our environment. He is a true environmental hero, and so working with him has been a great privilege.”
In 2024, the soon-to-be Dancing With the Stars contestant was named a Global Ambassador for the Prince of Wales’ Earthshot Prize, an initiative launched in an effort to find and amplify innovative solutions for environmental challenges. The awards ceremony, held annually, recognizes and supports five winners in categories like protecting nature, clean air and fixing the climate.
The young conservationist had previously participated in The Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore and had been a staunch advocate for the initiative since its inception.
“The Earthshot Prize is a beacon of hope for all of us who care about the environment and about our ability to ensure a livable future for ourselves and future generations,” Irwin said in a statement at the time. “Healthy oceans, ecosystems, and species equal a healthy planet, and The Earthshot Prize recognizes the importance of investing in and helping grow solutions that protect these critical resources.”
“We’ve definitely compared a lot of notes in the conservation space,” Irwin told Us of his work alongside the royal family member. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from — whether internationally in Australia, here in America, wherever you are — we need to prioritize taking care of our natural world. And he’s really at the forefront of that.”
He continued, “And plus, he’s just a great guy. When you have a conversation with him, he’s the most lovely, intelligent person to talk to and is just so easygoing, so much fun. And I love working with him. He’s a really, really, really good guy.”
Irwin went on to explain to Us that the prince’s Earthshot Prize is “similar to what we do with Wildlife Warriors,” the family’s nonprofit charity organization established by his late father and his mother, Terri Irwin, with a focus on protecting and educating the public about wildlife conservation.
“Steve used to say to me, ‘When it’s my time, I don’t care if anyone remembers me. I Just hope they remember my message.’ And so I had this sense of responsibility to make sure his missions dn his message continued,” Terri, 60, told Us ahead of the gala honoring her husband’s legacy.
“The gala dinner is the best way to bring people together from all over the world to help raise funds and awareness for wildlife,” she continued. “And it’s really important, too. We are together as a family and we get to celebrate my husband, their dad, and that’s really special, too.”
