Robert Irwin Reflects on Emotional Moment Walking Sister Bindi Down the Aisle in Place of Late Father Steve
Robert Irwin Reflects on Emotional Moment Walking Sister Bindi Down the Aisle in Place of Late Father Steve
Ashlyn RobinetteWed, March 11, 2026 at 7:50 PM UTC
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Steve Irwin (left); Bindi and Robert IrwinCredit: SGranitz/WireImage;Australia Zoo/Youtube -
Robert Irwin reflected on how he embraced the "good" pain while walking sister Bindi Irwin down the aisle in their late father Steve Irwin's place
Steve died after being stung by a stingray in September 2006
Bindi married Chandler Powell at Australia Zoo in March 2020
Robert Irwin is reflecting on the emotional moment he walked his older sister, Bindi Irwin, down the aisle in the place of their late father, Steve Irwin.
Steve was killed at age 44 in September 2006 off the coast of Australia after being stung by a stingray while filming a documentary. At the time, Robert was just 2 years old and Bindi was 8 years old. Then, 14 years later, Robert stepped up to fulfill what would have been Steve's special role at Bindi's wedding.
Now 22, Robert opened up to Anderson Cooper about how he embraced the "good" pain while escorting Bindi, now 27, down the aisle during his Tuesday, March 10 appearance on the CNN podcast All There Is with Anderson Cooper.
Bindi Irwin (left) being walked down the aisle on her wedding day by brother Robert Irwin (right)Credit: Australia Zoo/Youtube
"Isn't it crazy how that pain can feel, it sounds so weird, but it can feel so good when you're actually embracing it. When you're letting it kinda hit ya. Not detrimentally, but you're letting it in and you're feeling it. There have been times in my life where there's like certain moments that just, it just hits you and you just like, oof. And I know for me like one of those moments was when my sister got married," the wildlife conservationist said.
Bindi married Chandler Powell at the Australia Zoo on March 25, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wedding was attended by just three guests: Robert, the siblings' mom Terri Irwin, and Steve's best friend, Wes Mannion. The ceremony was officiated by a local celebrant.
Robert shared that Bindi had "always planned on" Steve walking her down the aisle, so when he had to do so instead, he felt like "this isn't my job."
"There's this weird sort of imposter syndrome," Robert remembered. "I almost felt a responsibility. It was like this is what dad was supposed to be doing. So I got to make the most of it. I got do this for him. I need to enjoy this for him."
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He continued, "I remember walking her down the aisle and that night just being like, I downloaded, I dumped so much emotion. I was just sitting in my backyard on the ground, just like dumping so much emotions. I think because yeah, there are these little moments that you just go oof.”
From left to right: Robert Irwin, Steve Irwin and Bindi Irwin in June 2005Credit: Newspix/Getty
At the time of the wedding, Bindi opened up about her intimate, private ceremony to PEOPLE.
"We thought about postponing, because you want to share this day with everyone, but when it boiled down to it, we both just said, 'Look, we desperately want to get married, and no matter what the future holds, at least we'll be husband and wife. We can take on the world together,' " Bindi said.
She noted that honoring Steve was an important part of the ceremony, sharing, "We had Dad's picture with his dog Sui blown up on an easel. So Mom and Robert were standing right next to Dad as we exchanged vows. We had a candle-lighting ceremony for him, and it really felt like he was there with us. It was a lovely moment of peace and happiness."
Bindi's bouquet was also tied with a khaki ribbon to represent Steve. "Most brides have something blue; I had my khaki," she said.
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Her mother told PEOPLE, "I think it's an interesting parallel that Steve and I first met at Australia Zoo, and Bindi and Chandler first met at Australia Zoo. So many memories came flooding back. It was a day where I wish Steve was there, but I think he really was. He would have been the first to cry happy tears."
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
