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Robert Irwin opens up about family pain on The Project: 'Devastating'

Wildlife Warrior Robert Irwin has shared his family's heartbreak while appearing on The Sunday Project. Robert opened up when panellists began discussing a disease that hundreds of thousands of Aussies are living with.

Robert joked as he discussed the Socceroos and meeting King Charles, sharing a hilarious anecdote about the moment he spilt orange juice on King Charles – not once, but twice.

But things took a serious turn when the panellists began discussing a new treatment for Alzheimer’s, a devastating brain disorder that slowly destroys memories and skills, with Robert sharing a personal story about his family.

Robert Irwin look sad while speaking on The Project.
Robert Irwin has opened up about a devastating disease that impacted his family. Source: The Project

"I think there's no one living who hasn't encountered someone or has a loved one who has experienced this," he said.

"My grandfather on my mum's side had a form of dementia and a lot of family friends have had that as well and it's devastating ... someone you love, someone you're close to going through that and not being able to relive and enjoy the moments they had, it's heartbreaking.

"I guess it just reminds you you've got to spend every second with the people you love and really surround yourself with love and light and hopefully this is light at the end of the tunnel for a safe way for people to stop this."

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Elsewhere in the program, the panellists discussed how Robert is keeping his father Steve Irwin's legacy of animal conservation alive and shared a clip of the 19-year-old performing with The Wiggles during a gala for Steve Irwin Day.

"The Wiggles are just legendary and my dad sort of did a fun collaboration project within Australia Zoo way back in the day, like 20 years ago, we've worked with them for a long time," he said.

"The fact all the original Wiggles came back to support our charity means the world. Dad set this up as a way to support wildlife conservation here in Australia and on the global stage. And a night like that just makes us realise his legacy is alive and thriving. It's the honour of a lifetime to keep that going."

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