Bob Irwin, the father of the late Steve Irwin, has granted a rare interview, revealing that he has not seen his grandchildren Bindi and Robert in more than ten years.
Earlier this year, the 80-year-old made headlines when it was falsely reported that he refused to congratulate Bindi on her engagement, as part of a long-running family feud.
Speaking with the Courier Mail, Irwin said that the claims in the article were “totally untrue” and that after it came out, he wrote his granddaughter a letter wishing her the best with her engagement.
He has not received a response to the letter, and says that he and his wife Judy have not been invited to Bindi and Chandler Powell‘s upcoming nuptials.
Bob Irwin resigned from Australia Zoo in 2008, two years after his son’s death, and while the family rarely comment on the estrangement, it seems he has not seen Steve’s children since.
He told the Courier Mail:
“I get messages (from friends) constantly about how Bob and Bindi are doing, what achievements they’ve made, what interests they have, and I also watch television like everyone else. They keep me up-to-date … Both Bindi and Bob have achieved a lot in a short space of time; mind you, they’re both only young yet … But they’ve done well and … I would say Steve would be pretty happy with the way they’re going.”
Irwin said that he wishes his grandchildren “all the best” that he and his wife would attend Bindi’s wedding if they were invited, although they don’t expect this to happen.
Bindi Irwin says that her wedding will be held next year at Australia Zoo, and neither she nor the zoo have commented on this latest story.
