Prince William and Robert Irwin Share Banter on The Graham Norton Show
The Prince of Wales and the Australian conservationist engaged in playful exchanges about underwear ads and a named crocodile.
Prince William's appearance on The Graham Norton Show led to an amusing interaction with Australian conservationist Robert Irwin, leaving the younger man visibly embarrassed.
During the show, images from Irwin's racy underwear advertisement for Bonds were displayed. The advertisements, featuring the 22-year-old conservationist posing with snakes and spiders while wearing only underpants, prompted a cheeky comment from the Prince.
"I'm still thinking about your python," Prince William, 44, joked, referencing the reptiles often associated with Irwin's conservation work. Irwin responded with laughter, appearing flustered by the remark.
Irwin explained the intention behind the advertisement was to incorporate a conservation message into a broader commercial context. "It was an underwear commercial, obviously, but I wanted to kind of create a conservation element to it," he stated. "I believe in bringing the message to an audience that might not ordinarily be in that world."
The conversation then turned to Irwin's naming of a 12-foot saltwater crocodile after the Prince. "We recently caught this beautiful 12-foot unit of a croc!" Irwin announced, describing the animal's powerful nature. He revealed he had named the creature "Prince William."
However, Prince William playfully rejected the honor, suggesting a more fitting namesake. "It should have been named after The Rock... it shouldn't be me!" he quipped.
Irwin had previously shared on social media the details of the crocodile naming, stating in September, "Meet 'Prince William,' a 12-foot 6-inch saltwater crocodile and the 300th crocodile tagged through our world-leading research project on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve."
Prince William and Robert Irwin have a history of collaboration, particularly on animal conservation initiatives. The Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, previously sent a congratulatory message to Irwin when he won Dancing with the Stars US with his partner Witney Carson. Irwin, who serves as an ambassador for Prince William's Earthshot Prize, shared a clip of the finale, which included the royal couple's comment: "Congratulations Robert and Witney!" followed by a disco ball emoji.