Robert Irwin has been eternally commemorated through the artistry of Madame Tussauds, with his wax figure unveiling marked by an extraordinary placement: by the side of his late father, Steve Irwin. On Thursday, November 28th, in Sydney, Australia, the 20-year-old Robert was moved to tears as he laid eyes on his father's wax figure for the very first time.
"This is astonishing," Robert remarked, his voice wavering with emotion. "For so long, he's been confined to photographs; this is the first time he's been brought to life in another form." Videos shared by News.com.au captured the young conservationist shaking his head in disbelief, taking a deep breath to steady himself before stepping away to gather his composure.
Following in his father's footsteps, Robert is both a dedicated conservationist and zookeeper. Tragically, Steve, who was killed by a stingray at just 44 years old in 2006, passed away when Robert was only 2. Steve and his wife, Terri, owned the Australia Zoo, where Robert and his sister, Bindi, 26, now carry on the family legacy.
"This stands as one of the most surreal moments of my life. It's nothing short of incredible," Robert exclaimed during an interview with the Australian morning show Sunrise, referring to his own wax figure, which captures him cradling a snake. "I keep scrutinizing every detail, thinking, 'It's me! It really is me!' I wonder if the world is prepared for two versions of me."
Describing the honor as "truly special," Robert was particularly touched by the proximity of his statue to his father's, which was unveiled in 2015. "This was my first-ever glimpse of my dad's wax figure. I've seen pictures, but never in person," he shared. "I was overwhelmed with emotion. I didn't anticipate that reaction, but seeing him there, standing tall, brought back so many memories. For the past 17 years, he's been present only through photos and videos. To see him as if he's truly there was overwhelming."
Once again, Robert's voice quivered with emotion, but he quickly regained his composure. "It was incredibly emotional," he admitted. "But my mission is to continue my dad's legacy. So, being able to stand with him now means the world to me. I'm incredibly grateful."
According to Sunrise, Robert is the youngest Australian celebrity to be featured at Madame Tussauds Sydney. Alongside his family, he has dedicated his life to honoring Steve's work and starred in the Animal Planet series Crikey! It's the Irwins. In September, Robert was named a global ambassador for Prince William's Earshot Prize, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to addressing the world's most pressing environmental challenges.
