When rumours that the son of the late Crocodile Hunter Robert Irwin, 20, was dating Rorie Buckey, the niece of Heath Ledger, teenage hearts across the world shattered and Aussie adults told themselves “Crikey, I feel old!”
After being first spotted together in November 2022, Rob and Rorie were able to steal away a few quiet months together, as they kept their blossoming romance off the radar and strictly private, but from August 2023, the young couple have taken to their social media accounts to share numerous relationship updates, much to the delight of fans across the globe.
WATCH NOW: Robert Irwin and Rorie Buckey attend the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards. Article continues after video.
Sadly however the pair confirmed they had parted ways in mid-February 2024, taking to their respective Instagram accounts to share a joint statement.
“We wanted to share that we have decided to go our seperate ways but profoundly appreciate all of the time spent together and wish one another all the very best into the future. We wish to express the gratitude and respect we have for one another as we continue our journeys on different paths. We won’t be commenting further on this, and really appreciate your respect and privacy during this time.”
Shortly after the statement was posted, both Rob and Rorie deleted all images of their ex-partner from their respective social media accounts.
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Speaking with New Idea, an insider source revealed that it was Rob who “pulled the pin” on the relationship.
We were also told that it is unlikely the couple will get back together, especially considering Rob is set to take centre stage co-hosting the new season of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.
“Robert is hurting, but there’s no better way to shake off his first relationship heartache than by working alongside the very funny Julia in the South African jungle,” the source shared with us.
Scroll on to see the happiest memories captured by camera that Robert and Rorie shared of their relationship whilst they were together.
Rorie shared this sweet photo of her and Robert in February 2024.
The two are shown wearing matching yellow jumpers and walking arm-in-arm while at Disneyland.
Rorie captioned the post, “Happier with you.”
In January 2024, the pair stepped out in style for the 2024 Australian Open.
Robert was noticeably tense as he anxiously watched the women’s semi-final singles match between Coco Gauff of the United States and world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
To ring in the new year, the young couple took their relationship to the next level, taking an international ski trip to Canada!
One photo shared to Instagram showed the couple cuddled up together and the other focused on Rob and Rorie holding hands.
To wrap up 2023, the young couple both shared never-before-seen images on their Instagram accounts.
“Grateful for all the wonderful memories created this year, the people I’ve met, for my beautiful family and friends. My heart is so full of love and gratitude. Bring on 2024! 💛,” penned Rorie.
Boyfriend Rob wrote an equally sweet caption: “R+R. Thanks for making my 2023 so bright. Too many years ahead ❤️,” to which Rorie replied in the comments: “I love you with all my heart ❤️☀️.”
Rorie has announced that she had started working for Rob’s family business at Australia Zoo in December 2023, taking to her Instagram to share a photo of herself in the uniform.
“I am honoured to be part of groundbreaking research on crocodiles in remote North Queensland,” she wrote.
“Working with the University of Queensland and Australia Zoo is profoundly rewarding and I am so grateful to be alongside such inspiring individuals. This data is helping to conserve a keystone species and the habitat that supports them!”
Rorie also updated her Instagram profile to read “Wildlife Warrior.”
That same month Rob and Rorie stepped out together at the 2023 GQ Men of the Years Awards in Sydney.
The event was held at the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach on December 6th.
The loved-up couple looked absolutely stunning, as usual!
Prior to the event, Rorie took to Instagram to share just how proud she is of Rob.
“You never cease to amaze me @robertirwinphotography ❤️ 2023 GQ Man of The Year for the Social Force category,” she wrote.
It’s hard to believe how quickly Rob has grown up!
To celebrate his 20th birthday, Rorie shared a sweet Instagram tribute to her love.
“Happy 20th birthday to my partner in crime and best friend. I love you.”
Rob responded with an equally sweet reply: “Aww Rorie ❤️ thank you, I can’t wait to enter my 20th year with you!”
She also described Rob as a “radiant, beautiful human being” and her “everything” on her Instagram stories
Also recently, Rob and Rorie stepped out in style for the annual Steve Irwin gala in Brisbane, Rorie sharing a group photo with the Irwin family, describing them as people she “loved very much.”
She also shared some behind-the-scenes snaps of her and her handsome boyfriend looking adoringly into each other’s eyes, with another sweet caption “I’m so proud of you @robertirwinphotography,” with Rob responding: “Proud of YOU Rorie 🙌.”
Sister-in-law Bindi also had kind words for the couple, penning: “Rorie!! You are stunning. So beautiful inside and out 💛 It was wonderful to celebrate such a special night together.”
In November 2023, the couple also took a trip to Singapore together to attend the 2023 Earthshot Prize award ceremony, where they both rubbed shoulders with none other than Prince William.
Rorie posted this gorgeous photo of the two with the caption, “I love doing life with you.”
Rob commented, “I Love you Rorie ❤️.”
For Halloween 2023, their first together as a couple, the youngsters took inspiration from the billion-dollar blockbuster 2023 movie Barbie, Rorie sharing some likeness with star Margot Robbie and Rob channeling his inner Ryan Gosling as Ken.
“Can you feel the KEN-ergy?,” Rob jokingly captioned the post, much to the delight of his followers, the post generating hundreds of thousands of likes mere hours after being posted.
Rorie shared the same snaps to her own social media profiles, Rob commenting that Rorie made him feel “KEN-ough”, in a hilarious ode to the movie.
In August 2023, Rob officially hard launched his first public relationship, with a sweet selfie of him and his girlfriend Rorie with an equally sweet caption: “🌸🌼☀️.”
In the three days after it was posted, the image attracted almost 550,000 likes, with sister Bindi sharing her excitement for the couple with a comment of her own.
“Love you both!” she penned.
A few days later, Rorie took to her own Instagram account to share an image of her and her adoring boyfriend Rob out and about in nature.
“Adventure buddy,” she captioned the smiley snap, her beau commenting a simple love heart emoji.
Rorie also shared a gorgeous photo taken of a Polaroid snap which saw Rob and Rorie cuddled up for the camera.
Just days after their social media debut, the lovebirds spent time at the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve in Cape York, Queensland with the rest of the Irwin family as they undertook important conservation work and research for the local crocodiles.
Something tells us Rorie will give Chandler a run for his money as a wildlife warrior in the making!
Snuggled up close for the camera, Rob and Rorie posed for a Polaroid whilst on a boat presumably somewhere in the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve on Cape York Peninsula.
Captioned with a simple “R + R 🌏” fans went wild, none more so than Rob’s sister Bindi!
“Meant to be ❤️,” she commented on the Instagram post, with her sister-in-law Rorie adding an equally heartfelt reaction, simply writing “My ❤️.”
Awwww!
“The best times with the best people ❤️,” Rob captioned this wholesome family snap of the entire Irwin clan and two of their friends and Australia Zoo staffers.
Rorie simply commented two heart emojis.
Almost one year from when they were first linked, Rob declared his love for Rorie on social media.
“I love you,” he commented on Rorie’s most recent Instagram post, a snap of the pair enjoying New York City together.
Only a few weeks later the love birds went on yet another holiday together, this time to Tasmania.
Sharing numerous snaps of their romantic stay, the pair were all smiles as they enjoyed some sunshine, the great outdoors, and of course plenty of yummy drinks and food.
Commenting under Rorie’s carousel of images from their vacation that she shared on her Instagram, her doting boyfriend simply wrote “amazing trip.”
Sister-in-law Bindi commented “spectacular 💙” whilst Irwin family matriarch Terri penned “Such a beautiful couple in my favourite place on Earth!”
Prior to that, Rob and Rorie made their red carpet debut, appearing at the Australian premiere of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One at the ICC Sydney in June 2023.
Dazzling onlookers in matching black ensembles, the lovebirds looked every bit the part of being young and in love!
In November 2022, Rob was spotted with Rorie Buckey for the first time. And whilst pap photos of the pair hinted at their relationship, neither teenager publicly confirmed they were dating.
Luckily for all the nosy nelleys out there, Rorie’s dad Nathan (who is married to Heath Ledger’s sister Kate) did confirm to the Daily Mail Australia that his daughter and Rob were dating.
“Of course, absolutely!” he told the publication when asked if his new “son-in-law” had his seal of approval.
In April 2023, Rob jetted to Perth for the Easter long weekend to spend time with Rorie’s WA-based family, a sure sign that things were getting serious!
At the time, an insider confirmed to New Idea that the young couple were “crazy for each other” and had formed a “deep connection” over their shared experience of loosing a family member at a young age.
“They both have real feelings for each other, and nothing has stopped that, even being in different cities most of the time,” the insider confirmed.
“This is a very serious relationship, certainly on Robert’s side.”
With Rorie already meeting the Irwin clan, we’re told Robert received “full approval” from Rorie’s mum, Kate, and her husband Nathan.
“They all genuinely like him,” the insider said at the time.
“Robert was nervous, but that actually won him points. He’s an incredibly humble bloke, despite growing up in the spotlight, and he actually reminds them of Heath a bit.”
