Bindi Irwin reveals the heartbreak of not having father Steve Irwin with her on her wedding day 

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‘I wish so much that dad and Chandler could have met’: Bindi Irwin reveals the heartbreak of not having her late father Steve Irwin with her on her wedding day – but says he’d be ‘excited’ for her if he was alive

By Marta Jary For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Bindi Irwin wed partner Chandler Powell at a secret ceremony at Australia Zoo on March 25.

And in the latest episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, a special which focused on the 21-year-old’s wedding to Chandler, 23, the conservationist revealed the heartbreak of not having her late father with her on her wedding day. 

Bindi said that she wished that Steve, who died 14 years ago, could have met the man she was then about to marry. 

Heartbreak: In the latest episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins, a special which focused on Bindi Irwin (pictured) marrying Chandler Powell, the 21-year-old expressed her heartbreak at not having her late father at her wedding 

‘I wish, I wish so much, that dad and Chandler could have met, an emotional Bindi said.   

The Australia Zoo co-owner added hopefully: ‘But in a way, I feel like dad is still with us.’

Father-in-law: 'I wish, I wish so much, that dad and Chandler could have met, an emotional Bindi said. She is pictured with now-husband Chandler Powell

Father-in-law: ‘I wish, I wish so much, that dad and Chandler could have met, an emotional Bindi said. She is pictured with now-husband Chandler Powell 

The Australia Zoo co-owner added hopefully: 'But in a way, I feel like dad is still with us.' Bindi is pictured with her father Steve in 2003

The Australia Zoo co-owner added hopefully: ‘But in a way, I feel like dad is still with us.’ Bindi is pictured with her father Steve in 2003

Daddy's girl: Bindi went on to say that she was very close to her father, and every missed milestone was difficult

Daddy’s girl: Bindi went on to say that she was very close to her father, and every missed milestone was difficult

Bindi went on to say that she was very close to her father, and every missed milestone was difficult.   

‘I had the closet relationship with my dad. He was always my best friend. And we did everything together,’ she said.   

‘Since we lost dad it’s always been something that’s kind of in the back of your head. Those moments that you have to live though without the person that you love so much is incredibly challenging.’

Hard: 'Since we lost dad it's always been something that's kind of in the back of your head. Those moments that you have to live though without the person that you love so much is incredibly challenging' she said. Pictured with her father Steve and mother Terri in 2002

Hard: ‘Since we lost dad it’s always been something that’s kind of in the back of your head. Those moments that you have to live though without the person that you love so much is incredibly challenging’ she said. Pictured with her father Steve and mother Terri in 2002

However Bindi went on to explain that she knows her father would want her to be happy rather than missing him on her wedding day. 

‘But what’s the one thing dad would have wanted?’ she asked. ‘He would have wanted me to be happy, for this to be the most joyful time in my life.  

‘And that’s how I am really trying to approach this. His spirit lives on in everything we do and I think he’d be really excited.’   

Married: Bindi wed partner Chandler (left) at a secret ceremony at Australia Zoo on March 25. Bindi went on to explain: '[Dad] would have wanted me to be happy, for this to be the most joyful time in my life. His spirit lives on in everything we do and I think he'd be really excited'

Married: Bindi wed partner Chandler (left) at a secret ceremony at Australia Zoo on March 25. Bindi went on to explain: ‘[Dad] would have wanted me to be happy, for this to be the most joyful time in my life. His spirit lives on in everything we do and I think he’d be really excited’

The couple made the ‘difficult decision’ to host their wedding at Australia Zoo on March 25 without guests amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison enforced new restrictions on weddings, with only five people allowed to attend – including the couple, the celebrant and witnesses.  

Bindi and Chandler got engaged at Australia Zoo in Queensland in July last year, on what was her 21st birthday. They began dating in 2015. 

Steve Irwin, famously known as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, tragically died from a stingray barb to the heart in 2006. He was 44-years-old.

Tragic: Steve Irwin, famously known as the 'Crocodile Hunter', tragically died from a stingray barb to the heart in 2006. He was 44-years-old

Tragic: Steve Irwin, famously known as the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, tragically died from a stingray barb to the heart in 2006. He was 44-years-old