Prince William has playfully rejected Robert Irwin’s tribute after the conservationist revealed he had named a 12-foot-long saltwater crocodile in the royal’s honour.
The pair recently appeared on The Graham Norton Show, where Robert, 22, left William, 44, stunned by the unexpected story behind the reptile’s name.
“We recently caught this beautiful 12-foot unit of a croc! He was beautiful, death-rolling, he had teeth like this, he came out swinging, he was just amazing!” Robert told the audience.
He then explained that the animal had been named after one of his favourite people: the heir to the throne.
“It is Prince William the crocodile!” Robert announced.
William laughed off the gesture and quickly suggested that the crocodile might have been better suited to another namesake.
Prince William has jokingly objected after Robert Irwin named a 12-foot-long saltwater crocodile after him.
“It should have been named after The Rock… it shouldn’t be me!” William joked.
Robert had previously explained on social media why he chose to give the crocodile the Prince of Wales’s name.
“Meet ‘Prince William,’ a 12-foot 6-inch saltwater crocodile and the 300th crocodile tagged through our world-leading research project on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve,” Robert wrote in September.
“We named him in recognition of Prince William’s remarkable commitment to conservation and to mark the halfway point of The Earthshot Prize.”
“Using the same techniques devised by my dad, Steve Irwin, this croc has been fitted with a small tracker that will provide a decade of invaluable data.”
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“All to benefit the conservation of this species and its ecosystem. It’s an incredible milestone, and a reminder of how research can contribute to conservation over generations.”
William and Robert have been friends for years and have worked together on a number of animal conservation initiatives.
In September last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales sent Robert a warm message after he won Dancing With The Stars US.
Robert Irwin, 22, surprised William, 44, with the story of how he came to name the crocodile after the royal during their appearance on The Graham Norton Show.
“It is Prince William the crocodile!” Robert said, prompting an amused William to joke that the name was not quite right.
William and Kate used their official Instagram account to congratulate the Australian conservationist, who won the trophy alongside his professional dance partner, Witney Carson.
Robert, an ambassador for William’s Earthshot Prize, had shared a video from the grand finale on Instagram.
“Congratulations Robert and Witney!” the couple’s account commented, adding a disco ball emoji.
Earlier that month, William surprised Robert when he personally called him up for a video chat to wish him luck.
‘Oh my goodness!’ Robert said as his jaw dropped open, before he composed himself to ask, ‘How was Rio?’
William said the prize ceremony went ‘really well,’ and he was confident that ‘We’re going to save the world.’