Robert Irwin tells Australian Women’s Weekly about pain of losing dad Steve

Robert Irwin has opened up about the effect losing Steve had on his family, in a candid new interview about growing up without his dad.

Robert Irwin is the cover star for the latest edition of The Australian Women’s Weekly – making him only the third solo male cover star of the mag in modern times, joining Hugh Jackman and Prince Harry in the select club.

But in fact, it’s actually the second time Irwin’s graced the cover of the iconic Aussie mag: The first came back in 2006, in family photos that were taken before his father Steve’s death at the age of 44, and which were then used for a special tribute issue.

Robert Irwin on the new Australian Women's Weekly.

The Irwins in 2006, posing for what would become a tribute issue to Steve.

“I remember that day – my mum and dad tickling me so I’d be laughing and you’d get that amazing cover shot,” he told the mag.

“It was always the littlest tickle and I’d just start cacking myself laughing!”

Photos taken around Irwin’s beloved Australia Zoo are accompanied by a candid new interview, in which he talks about the pain of losing his father just weeks before his third birthday.

Irwin has opened up about losing his dad at such a young age.

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“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think: ‘Gosh, I wonder what I’d ask Dad if he was here,” he said. “When you lose a father figure at such a young age, who’s such a commanding presence of positivity and everything that is good in the world, of course all I want is for him to be here for me; to go, ‘What do you think about this, what do you think about that?’ There are so many things I wish I could ask him on so many levels.”

The photos were taken at the Irwin family-owned Australia Zoo.

Elsewhere in the interview. he paid tribute to his mother Terri and older sister Bindi for looking after him after the family lost Steve in that tragic accident back in 2006.

He also acknowledges the enormous debt he owes to mum Terri and big sister Bindi for protecting him after they lost Steve.

“When you are three, you don’t really even know what death means,” he told the Weekly. “Whereas for Mum and Bindi, it was pure, unfiltered devastation and loss. The way they helped me navigate my life, I am so grateful for it. I will always feel like I am missing a part of myself, but I never feel like I missed out on anything.”

The full interview with Irwin is featured in the March issue of the Australian Woman’s Weekly, now on sale. He’ll co-host the next season of I’m a Celebrity …. Get Me Out of Here! from March 24 on Network 10 and 10Play.

Originally published as Robert Irwin tells Australian Women’s Weekly about pain of losing dad Steve