'She said YES!' Bindi Irwin gets engaged on her 21st birthday

Bindi Irwin has announced her engagement to her boyfriend, Chandler Powell, with her longtime love dropping to one knee on her 21st birthday.

The daughter of late Australian zookeeper and conservationist, Steve Irwin, and his wife Terri Irwin, took to her Instagram page to make the joyous announcement.

“July 24th 2019. On my birthday I said ‘yes’ and ‘forever’ to the love of my life,” Bindi started her post.

“Chandler, close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness. I’m so looking forwarding to spending our forever together as your wife.

“Here’s to a lifetime of friendship, purpose and unconditional love. — Now let’s get married already!”

Bindi’s childhood sweetheart, 22-year-old Chandler, also took to his Instagram page to gush over his future wife, writing: “She said YES”.

“Almost 6 years ago we met at Australia Zoo. I immediately fell head over heels for your kind and thoughtful heart that radiates so much light. I love you more than anything in this world and I always will,” he said.

“Forever together sounds perfect.”

Bindi’s family over the moon

Bindi’s famous family also posted adorable photos of the newly-engaged couple to their social media accounts, with the star’s younger brother, 15-year-old Robert Irwin saying he’s ‘beyond happy’ for the both of them.

“You are true soulmates and have always been so completely perfect for each other. Love you both and congratulations,” he wrote.

Proud mum, Terri, took to Twitter to wish her daughter and future son-in-law well.

“Best day ever! Chandler asked and beautiful @BindiIrwin said yes. I am so very happy, and I know Steve would be too. Congratulations!!,” she wrote.

How they met

Bindi and Chandler met in 2013, after the star took his family on a private tour of Australia Zoo in Queensland.

However, they didn’t start dating until July 2015, after Chandler reached out to Terri and asked if he could take Bindi out and they’ve been inseparable ever since.

The loved-up Australian star told the Australian Women’s Weekly in an interview in 2017 that she believes her dad would have approved of Chandler.

"I'm lucky I have found the one, the person I want to spend all of my time with," she said.

"Mum and Robert and I have talked about that a lot. We think dad would have loved Chandler."

Wedding rumours

In October last year, Bindi dismissed rumours that she was already engaged to fellow Australia Zoo employee Chandler, but suggested that it could be on the cards down the track.

“Four years, 10 months. We’re almost at our five-year mark. And it’s really exciting. We are taking things slow and we’re just enjoying life and the adventure,” Bindi told People magazine.

“It’s interesting, as human beings we’re always so rushed with things, so you know, ‘When are you going to start dating?’ ‘When are you going to get married?’ ‘When are you going to have kids?’ ‘When are you going to have another kid?’ Every single step.

“And so I think we all need to just revel in the now.”

Back in 2016, Bindi shut down rumours that she was about to walk down the aisle after she won the American TV show, Dancing with the Stars.

“I don’t think I’m at a point in my life where marriage and getting engaged is really a huge priority right now for me. Maybe in five years, but right now I’m really happy with where I’m at,” Bindi told Entertainment Tonight.

“I’m really happy with our relationship and I think we’ll just continue to have fun. It’s just nice to have someone there no matter what.”

Chatting to Richard Wilkins and Sonia Kruger on Today Extra back in 2016, the then 18-year-old assured the hosts there wasn’t any truth to rumours of an engagement to her beau, Chandler Powell.

“I’m very lucky. I have a wonderful boyfriend. I’m so glad that Chandler is here in Australia to celebrate his 20th birthday,” she said.

“We’re just enjoying our time together. No wedding bells just yet,” she continued.

“We’re having fun together and enjoying the time here in Australia because he’s originally from Florida.

“We’re slowly adopting here to Australia Zoo and getting him in with the all the animals. We’re having a lot of fun. So it works out, but no marriage just yet.”

Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com

Want more lifestyle and celebrity news? Follow Yahoo Lifestyle on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Or sign up to our daily newsletter here.