Robert Irwin has survived crocodiles, snakes and the Dancing With The Stars ballroom — but apparently nothing prepared him for Prince William making a cheeky “python” joke about his Bonds underwear campaign on national television.
Robert Irwin was left visibly cringing after Prince William made a perfectly timed joke about the Australian conservationist’s now-famous underwear campaign during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
Irwin, 22, joined William, Cate Blanchett and Hannah Waddingham on the BBC sofa for an episode centred around the Earthshot Prize, the environmental initiative founded by the Prince of Wales.
Everything was going relatively respectably.
Then Graham Norton put Irwin’s Bonds photos on screen.
‘I’m still thinking about your python’
The 2025 campaign featured Irwin posing in Bonds underwear alongside some very Australian co-stars — including snakes and spiders.
Looking at the photos while sitting next to the future king clearly proved a little much.
“I can’t believe I’m looking at these with Prince William,” Irwin said.
“Australia’s hot, you can’t wear too much!”
Norton then asked William whether he had seen the campaign images before.
His response?
“I’m still thinking about your python.”
Cue Irwin immediately collapsing into the sofa in embarrassment.
Subtle? No.
Effective? Absolutely.
The Bonds campaign had a conservation angle too
For all the attention Irwin’s underwear campaign received, he has consistently said there was more to the shoot than the obvious thirst-trap appeal.
The Bonds campaign placed him alongside snakes and other wildlife, combining his growing fashion profile with the conservation work that has defined his public life.
Irwin explained on The Graham Norton Show that he wanted the campaign to reach people who might not normally engage with wildlife messaging.
“It was an underwear commercial, obviously, but I wanted to kind of create a conservation element to it,” he said.
“What matters to me is the snake in that image, wildlife was showcased.”
The campaign itself helped introduce Bonds more aggressively to the US market, while Irwin’s involvement ensured wildlife remained part of the visual concept.
Whether everyone looking at the photos was primarily focused on the wildlife is another matter.
From conservationist to international heartthrob
Irwin’s profile has grown well beyond Australia Zoo over the past two years.
The son of late conservationist Steve Irwin has continued his family’s wildlife work while also building a considerable television and entertainment career.
His Bonds campaign became a major viral moment in 2025, particularly among queer fans, and was followed by an even bigger visibility boost when he competed on — and won — Dancing With The Stars later that year.
That combination of earnest conservation work and accidental sex-symbol status has become very much part of Robert Irwin’s public image.
He has also publicly described himself as an LGBTQ+ ally, something that has helped make him a particular favourite among queer audiences.
Why was Prince William there?
The slightly chaotic sofa moment happened during a special edition of The Graham Norton Show promoting the Earthshot Prize.
William founded Earthshot in 2020 to support scalable environmental solutions, with five winners each receiving £1 million annually.
Irwin serves as an Earthshot ambassador, while Blanchett sits on the Prize Council and Waddingham hosted the 2023 awards in Singapore.
This year’s awards will take place in Mumbai, India, on 17 November, with 15 finalists competing across five environmental categories.
So yes, the actual purpose of the appearance was saving the planet.
The underwear just briefly stole the show.
William also revealed his family loves Celebrity Traitors
The conversation was not entirely about Irwin’s modelling career.
William also revealed that his family are major fans of The Celebrity Traitors.
“I love it, the family love it. Charlotte and Louis are obsessed with it. It’s really good telly,” he said.
He also admitted that, after watching contestant Ross Kemp become paranoid about being touched on the show, he deliberately tried touching him the next day just to see how he would react.
Apparently, Earthshot diplomacy comes with a side of mischief.
Robert Irwin takes the joke in stride
For Irwin, the moment was another reminder that the Bonds campaign is apparently going to follow him for a while.
The shoot may have been designed to bring wildlife conservation to a new audience, but the combination of snakes, underwear and Robert Irwin ensured it became something much bigger online.
Now even Prince William is making jokes about it.
Honestly, at that point, you probably just have to accept the legacy.
