Robert Irwin has revealed an awkward encounter he had with King Charles, admitting he accidentally spilled orange juice on the royal table, not once but twice.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 22-year-old was asked to share an embarrassing story about himself.
“I’ve never really told this one. This is bad,” Robert said.
“I was at lunch with the King of England, King Charles. I was a kid… but I got an orange juice, and I managed to spill it across the table right at him.
“Luckily, it didn’t hit him, right? The best bit is, they bring me another pitcher of orange juice full to the brim.
“I did it again, five minutes later.”
The confession drew laughter from host Jimmy Fallon, with Robert explaining that his mother, Terri Irwin, had warned him about this scenario while he was growing up.
“Because I am notorious for spilling stuff, she would always say to me growing up, ‘Robert, if you were dining with royalty, you wouldn’t spill. So just treat it like you’re always dining with royalty,’” he said.
Despite the high-profile setting, Robert admitted he still could not avoid the mishap.
While he did not specify when the lunch took place, it is believed to have happened during Charles’ 2018 visit to Australia, before he became king.
During the trip, the then-Prince of Wales spent time with the Irwin family at Lady Elliot Island off the Queensland coast, where they discussed marine conservation and met baby sea turtles.
At the time, Bindi Irwin described the meeting as a special experience.
“Our family feels extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to meet with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and other dignitaries today at Lady Elliot Island,” she wrote.
“We joined together to discuss important methods to protect the largest living structure on Earth. The Great Barrier Reef.
“We must work together to make a difference and protect these sensitive ecosystems for the generations to come.”
Robert, who was 14 at the time, also reflected on the meeting, saying he was “truly honoured” to spend the day with the then-Prince of Wales.
Image: Instagram
