'Keep it PG': Terri Irwin wants son Robert, 19, to 'take things slow' with first girlfriend Rorie Buckley
QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: Robert Irwin was spotted getting cozy with his alleged first girlfriend, Rorie Buckley, last month. But according to reports, Terri Irwin, his mother, is advising her 19-year-old son to "take things slow." The 58-year-old is reportedly keeping a close check on the couple to ensure that they "keep things PG," as per New Idea.
"Terri is really happy for Robert, and she likes Rorie, but she's urging him to take it slow for both their sakes," a source told the magazine. "Terri knows all too well what it's like to be in a relationship in the public eye. She wants to make sure they're ready."
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His mother's comments come a week after Terri was spotted awkwardly seated next to Rorie and Robert at the Australia Zoo to celebrate Robert's birthday. "You could tell Terri was making sure there was no canoodling under her roof," the insider said.
Last month, the young couple was seen in photos captured by New Idea magazine, taking a stroll at dusk at the beach while grinning uncontrollably. The two soon found a path of grass and sat down after purchasing hamburgers and fries from a neighborhood Grill'd restaurant. At one point, Robert threw his arms around the blonde and gave her a massive bear hug during their beachside date. When the story broke, much of the media mistook Rorie for her twin sister Scarlett as they are identical twins and not in the public eye.
Robert and Rorie allegedly have a lot in common as they both grew up in the spotlight following the tragic death of a family member. Rorie's uncle, Heath Ledger, was discovered dead in January 2008 from an accidental prescription drug overdose when his Hollywood career was at its peak. Since then, Kate has committed to honoring the late Ledger by establishing the Heath Ledger Scholarship for aspiring young Australian performers. "Heath is hugely important in the lives of my children,' she told the Who magazine in 2018. "There's not a day that goes by that we don't share stories or talk about him. He is very much alive in our house."
Steve Irwin, Robert's father, died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44, after being punctured in the chest by a stingray. Irwin is survived by his wife Terri, their daughter Bindi, and their son Robert, who was just three years old at the time of his father's death.
Robert and the Irwin family have pledged to honor Steve through their conservationist work at Australia Zoo. "What I am all about is continuing dad's legacy," Robert said in a recent Instagram video promoting Steve Irwin Day on November 15. "He gave it his all. He was always there for us kids. He was the ultimate wildlife warrior and is our greatest inspiration," he said.