The Sweet Role Bindi Irwin's Brother Robert Will Play In Her Wedding
Brittany Wong
The late Steve Irwin won’t be there to walk daughter Bindi down the aisle when she marries next year. Instead, the next best man for the job will do the honors: “The Crocodile Hunter’s” teen son, Robert Irwin.
On Monday, Robert, 15, confirmed he’ll step into the big role while reposting a photo that Bindi, 21, shared of her wedding dress.
“I said yes to the dress 💍,” tweeted Bindi, who announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Chandler Powell in July.
Retweeting the photo, her younger brother sweetly added: “Can’t wait to walk you down the aisle ❤️.”
The siblings were 8 and 2 years old when Irwin, a beloved wildlife expert and TV personality, died in 2006 while filming an underwater documentary. Since then, they’ve followed in their father’s footsteps, both working at the Australia Zoo, which Steve transformed into a major wildlife reserve and tourist attraction during his life. (His wife Terri currently runs the zoo.)
In fact, the wildlife reserve happens to be where Bindi met her fiancé.
Powell, a 22-year-old former professional wakeboarder from Florida, was visiting the Australia Zoo in 2013 on a day when Bindi was working.
“It just so happened that Bindi was giving tours that day,” he told People in December. “I’m like, ‘Wow she is amazing.’” He added: “We haven’t looked back since.”
Just like his bride-to-be, he’s been sharing his excitement about their big day on Instagram.
“Cannot wait to ‘meer-y’ this girl @australiazoo next year💛,” Powell captioned the adorable pic below over the weekend, with a nod to the very chill meerkat on his shoulder.
Robert also revealed that before popping the question, Powell ran through a mock engagement with Robert playing the role of Bindi.
“So, before we did it, Chandler came up to me, and of course he asked mom and I for our permission, but he also said ‘I want to make sure it’s perfect where I’m doing this proposal,’” he explained. “So I stood in for Bindi and mocked up where he was going to propose.”
The actual proposal (left) and Robert's mock proposal with Chandler. (Photo: Jimmy Fallon/YouTube)
Robert’s (clearly unlimited) encouragement hasn’t gone unnoticed. In August, Bindi shared a touching tribute to her famous father that included heartfelt appreciation for her younger brother, who she said has provided her “amazing support.”
Sharing an old family photo and addressing the post to her dad, Bindi said Steve would be “so incredibly proud” of his son.
“He has been such an amazing support during this beautiful new life chapter,” Bindi wrote. “I know you’d be beaming with pride when the time comes that he walks me down the aisle.”
Though Robert is taking the lead on the walk down the aisle, when it comes to the traditional father-daughter wedding dance, Bindi plans to experience the “wonderful moment” with her mom, Terri.
“My mom and I are so close,” she told “Entertainment Tonight” in July. “She’s my pillar of strength in life and I love her beyond description.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Actress/ wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin attends 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 21 at CBS Televison City on October 5, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Actress/ wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin attends 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 21 at CBS Televison City on September 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Actress/ wildlife conservationist Bindi Irwin attends 'Dancing with the Stars' Season 21 at CBS Televison City on September 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Bindi Irwin
In this handout photo provided by Australia Zoo, Bindi Irwin celebrates her 15th birthday on July 24, 2013 in Beerwah, Australia. (Photo by Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo via Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
In this handout photo provided by Australia Zoo, Bindi Irwin celebrates her 15th birthday with her mother Terri Irwin and brother Robert Irwin, on July 24, 2013 in Beerwah, Australia. (Photo by Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo via Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
In this handout photo provided by Australia Zoo, Bindi Irwin celebrates her 15th birthday with her mother Terri Irwin and brother Robert Irwin, on July 24, 2013 in Beerwah, Australia. (Photo by Ben Beaden/Australia Zoo via Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin, Russell Crowe, Tennyson Crowe and Charles Crowe arrive at the 'Man Of Steel' Australian premiere on June 24, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin star of the film "Return to Nim's Island," the sequel to the 2008 action-adventure movie "Nim's Island," premiering March 15, 2013 on the Hallmark Channel. The Hallmark Channel is making Friday nights a home for family movies. Hallmark says the movie, starring Irwin, the 14-year-old daughter of the late Steve Irwin, the Australian crocodile hunter, will air as part of the new "Walden Family Theater" series, a Hallmark Channel collaboration with producer Walden Media, ARC Entertainment studio and sponsors Wal-Mart and Procter & Gamble. (AP Photo/Hallmark Channel)
Bindi Irwin
This undated image provided by "Growing Up Wild", shows, Bindi Irwin, 13, and Robert Irwin, 8, children of famed animal adventurer Steve Irwin, pet an echidna at the Australian Zoo outside Brisbane, Aus. during a taping of Growing Up Wild, a new series from Fremantle Media that can be seen on The Pet Collective, a new YouTube Channel. (AP Photo/Growing Up Wild)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin arrives at the 2012 Logie Awards at the Crown Palladium on April 15, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
In this handout photo provided by Australia Zoo, Robert Irwin celebrates his eighth birthday with sister Bindi (L) and mother Terri Irwin, at Australia Zoo, on December 1, 2011 in Beerwah, Australia. (Photo by Australia Zoo via Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin arrive at the 'Puss in Boots' Australian Premiere at HOYTS Entertainment Quarter on November 27, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Caroline McCredie/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Robert and Bindi Irwin arrive at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Terri Irwin, Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin arrive at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Robert Irwin and Bindi Irwin arrive at the 2011 Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on October 7, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality Terri Irwin and her daughter Bindi Irwin arrive on the red carpet ahead of the 2011 Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on May 1, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin arrives on the red carpet ahead of the 2011 Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on May 1, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Oprah Winfrey poses with Terri Irwin, Bindi Irwin and Robert Irwin during the first taping of the 'Oprah Winfrey Show' at the Sydney Opera House on December 14, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. 12,000 audience members were selected from 350,000 applicants to participate in two tapings of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' at the Sydney Opera House. Oprah descended on Australia last week with 302 super fans from the US, Canada and Jamaica to produce four shows for the 25th and final season of the program. the shows will air in the US and Australia in January 2011. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Actor Beau Bridges and Bindi Irwin arrive at the Steve Irwin Day Gala Dinner to celebrate the life Steve Irwin and raise funds for Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on November 13, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by David Hardenberg/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality Bindi Irwin arrives at the 52nd TV Week Logie Awards at Crown Casino on May 2, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin and Terri Irwin arrive on the red carpet at the 2009 ARIA Awards at Acer Arena on November 26, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
erri, Robert (Bob) and Bindi Irwin arrive for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2009 at Hisense Arena on November 13, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality Bindi Irwin (R) and Terri Irwin attend the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Tv Host Bindi Irwin arrives at the 36th Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel on August 29, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality Bindi Irwin blows out the candles on her birthday cake as she celebrates her 11th birthday with her mother Terri Irwin and brother Robert (Bob) Irwin at Australia Zoo on July 24, 2009 in Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast near Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin attends the 36th annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards nomination party at Hearst Tower on May 14, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Robert Irwin (C) with his mother Terri and sister Bindi during his fifth birthday celebrations at Australia Zoo on December 1, 2008 on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Robert (Bob) Irwin is the only son of the late wildlife warrior Steve Irwin, who was killed by a stingray in 2006. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin attends the official launch of the Australian Wildlife Hospital at Australia Zoo on November 15, 2008 on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. The opening ceremony timed to coincide with the second annual Steve Irwin Day celebration realised Steve Irwin's dream to establish the world's largest wildlife hospital to honour his mother Lyn Irwin who had been a pioneer in wildlife care in Queesnalnd, Australia. The new hospital is also a living memorial to Steve Irwin. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality and conservationists Bindi arrives at the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards 2008 at the Hisense Arena on October 11, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. This year's event, now in its sixth year, was held in Melbourne for the first time in its history. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Conservationists Terri Irwin and daughter Bindi Irwin arrive on the red carpet at the 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards at the Crown Towers Hotel and Casino on May 4, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Terri Irwin and Bindi Irwin speak backstage with Bindi's Silver Logie Award for Most Popular New Female Talent in the Media Room at the 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards at the Crown Towers Hotel and Casino on May 4, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Conservationists Terri Irwin and daughter Bindi Irwin arrive on the red carpet at the 50th Annual TV Week Logie Awards at the Crown Towers Hotel and Casino on May 4, 2008 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Bindi, Robert, and Terri Irwin pose at the unveiling of Bindi's new toy line at FAO Schwarz on Febraury 18, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Loud/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
TV personality Bindi Irwin poses at the opening night celebration for G'DAY USA: Australia Week at Jazz Lincoln Center on January 22, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Henry/Getty Images)
Bindi Irwin
Actor John Travolta and Bindi Irwin stand on stage for Austrailia Plays Broadway during the opening night celebration for G'DAY USA: Australia Week at Jazz Lincoln Center January 22, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Steven Henry/Getty Images)
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