Robert Irwin's time on "Dancing With the Stars" hasn't just showcased his dance skills — it has revealed deeply personal moments, surprise appearances, and royal recognition that few saw coming.
Robert Irwin isn't just dancing on "Dancing With the Stars" — he's . The 21-year-old conservationist has revealed the two he brings to every show day of season 34, sparking a buzz.
On Sunday, November 16, Robert took to TikTok to share a personal ritual that keeps his late father, Steve Irwin, close, which has stunned fans.
"Every show day on 'Dancing With the Stars,' I have two good luck charms that I bring with me," he in the video. "These things keep me close to home and to what's most important to me."
The first item? A from his father's closet — worn, torn, and missing buttons. Robert gently held it up for viewers, pride and grief flickering in his smile.
"This is my dad's shirt," he . "I was going through his stuff, and I found this shirt. It's absolutely tattered and has holes and is missing buttons."
Turning to show its worn condition, Robert he had the shirt patched and mended — but not too much. "I like that it still looks and feels like him. Each one of the tears and the holes and the missing buttons tells another story. This shirt definitely saw a lot. I guess it's kind of a good example of how dad lived his life."
Before every performance, Robert wears it during his first rehearsal with partner Witney Carson — a ritual soaked in love and loss.
"It just keeps me close to home, and it keeps me close to him. It just feels like a big hug every time I put it on," he . "Every time I step out into the ballroom, I represent my message, my dad's legacy, my home, my family. It is such an honor to get to do that."
The shirt is only half of the story. On Monday, November 17, Robert revealed his second charm: a custom-made . "Again, it's sort of a connection back to my childhood and my dad and my family and my home," he .
Robert discovered a set of old keys while cleaning out his father's office. They belonged to the family's original home. He had them melted down and forged into a ring, "1638" — the address of the Australia Zoo on Steve Irwin Way.
"It's the most beautiful experience, and in some way, I want him [to be a] part of it," Robert . "This experience has truly changed my life. I know I wouldn't be here without him and his legacy that I get to continue."
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A few days before Robert's heartwarming revelation, a. On the November 11 episode of he dedicated his .
As filled the ballroom — the same song Robert's sister, Bindi Irwin, had danced to in her season 21 finale — fans were stunned to see Bindi herself step onto the stage.
As Robert and Witney neared the end of their routine, . The moment was steeped in family, grief, and honor.
While the final notes played, Robert , overwhelmed with emotion. Witney and Bindi knelt beside him in a powerful image of unity and loss. A video montage of Robert and Bindi in their father's arms played across the screen. Their mother, Terri Irwin, watched in silence.
Robert shared his reflections shortly after on Instagram. "This dance was emotional, beautiful and so deeply meaningful," he . "I carry Dad's legacy with me in everything I do, and it was a privilege to dedicate our foxtrot to him."
He praised Bindi for her past inspiration and thanked Witney for helping him reveal what he had never shown before.
"Thank you @bindisueirwin for inspiring us with your freestyle to this song, and thank you @witneycarson for once again choreographing such a beautiful story through dance and for creating a space for me to convey raw emotions that I've never gotten to share before," he . "I'm a proud Wildlife Warrior, and I'll always carry on my dad's mission."
The performance was a family affair both on and off screen. Robert's four-year-old niece, Grace, daughter of Bindi and Chandler Powell, also . She looked like a little princess in a forest green, butterfly-embroidered gown. Grace smiled gleefully outside the trailer while her parents stood proudly behind her.
Bindi dazzled in a sparkling black dress that perfectly captured the emotion of the night, while Chandler wore a matching black suit to complement his wife. "Can't wait for @dancingwiththestars! VOTE for @robertirwinphotography and @witneycarson," Bindi alongside backstage photos.
But just when emotions couldn't be higher, In a , Prince William appeared on screen, sending love and laughs to Robert from across the globe.
"We're missing you, Robert," the Prince of Wales . "Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here." Then, turning to Witney, he , "You need to get him in as much glitter as you can." Witney gasped, , "I can't believe he just said my name!"
Robert, visibly touched, before the performance, "We are doing this dance for Bindi, and we are doing this dance for Prince William, so let's not mess this up!"
The pressure before the performance was "This is a lot of weight, because I really want it to be our best dance yet, to be honest," Robert during rehearsals. A decade after Bindi's tribute, Robert now carried the same torch, in the same song, on the same stage.
Though he was originally expected to attend the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Brazil, Robert chose to stay in the U.S. for .He , "I told him, 'I'm still here,'" hoping Prince William wouldn't mind the absence.
But Robert's work as a conservationist and global ambassador for Earthshot continues beyond the glittering lights. Through the Australia Zoo and Wildlife Warriors, he fights for the planet just like his father did.
And now, through , is proving that legacy isn't just about the past — it's something .
