Prince William is committed to carrying on Steve Irwin’s legacy.

On Nov. 29, the Prince of Wales, 43, shared a video paying tribute to the late “wildlife warrior,” who died after a stingray attack in 2006, ahead of the 2025 Steve Irwin Gala in Brisbane. 

“Steve’s mission in life was to safeguard life on our planet, and tonight’s event is all about carrying forward that dedication to conservation and the natural world,” William said of the conservationist on Instagram. “We are approaching a defining moment, as temperatures rise, animals and plants face extinction, water resources diminish, and waste accumulates.”

Along with encouraging people to take “collective action” to preserve clean air, abundant oceans and a stable climate, William praised Robert Irwin’s work as a Global Ambassador for the Earthshot Prize, an environmental prize, and his commitment to carrying on his father’s vision.

“We couldn’t have asked for a more passionate and committed ambassador in Robert, and he’s not a bad dancer either,” he said, referring to the 21-year-old’s recent stint on Dancing with the Stars. “That clearly runs in the family too.”

Before Robert and his DWTS partner Witney Carson took home the Mirrorball Trophy on Nov. 25, Prince William made a surprise cameo on the Nov. 11 episode of DWTS to show his support for Robert, who couldn’t be in Brazil for the Earthshot Prize. 

“We’re missing you, Robert,” William said in a video message at the time. “Whilst your twinkle toes are going off elsewhere, I need you down here.” 

Addressing Irwin’s pro partner, 32, he added, “you need to get him in as much glitter as you can.”

Ten years before Robert stepped foot on the dance floor, his sister Bindi Irwin had won season 21 of the dance competition show alongside her DWTS partner, Derek Hough. So, Robert decided to dedicate a special foxtrot to Leona Lewis’ song, “Footprints in the Sand,” to his sister, who had dedicated the same song to their father during her run on the show. 

“We are doing this dance for Bindi, and we are doing this dance for Prince William, so let’s not mess this up” he declared. “There’s a lot of weight because I really want it to be our best dance yet, to be honest.”

Then, when Robert was declared the winner of DWTS season 34 during the Nov. 25 finale, William joined Kate Middleton in celebrating his accomplishment, writing in the comments of one of Robert’s Instagram posts, “Congratulations Robert and Witney! ✨🪩”

Years later, Paul Walker’s passing remains as hard to wrap our heads around as it was in 2013.

From the sounds of it, Paul Walker was having a pretty good day on November 30, 2013. By then, 20 years had passed since he’d made his daytime debut as Brandon Collins, the teenage dreamboat to whom Victoria Newman wouldn’t give the time of day. The 40-year-old was not only a movie star, boasting a resumé that went from thrillers such as 

Joy Ride to blue-chip films like Clint Eastwood’s Flags of Our Fathers, he was central to the hit The Fast and the Furious franchise; at the time, he was working on the seventh movie in the series.

But that all changed at about 3:30 in the afternoon. After leaving an event for his charity — Reach Out Worldwide, which sought to provide aid to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda — Walker was involved in an accident with his friend Roger Rodas, who drove his sports car into a lamp post and two trees. So horrific was the incident that it left both of their bodies burned beyond recognition.

The world, understandably, was devastated. Walker hadn’t just been a modern-day matinee idol, he’d been a hell of an actor and, on top of that, one who had seemed like an innately decent fellow. Actually, he hadn’t just 

seemed innately decent; as Eric Braeden told KCAL9 in Los Angeles in 2013, what you saw was what you got with Walker.

The two had worked together twice. The first time was during Walker’s short 

Young & Restless’ stint, when Victor’s daughter (then Heather Tom, now Katie on The Bold and the Beautiful) was so besotted with older man Ryan McNeil that she hardly noticed that oceans were envious of the blue of Brandon’s eyes. (Check out the then-newbie below, tearing Scott Reeves a new one).

Braeden and Walker then re-teamed as father and son in the 1998 comedy Meet the Deedles, with Steve Van Wormer (below) as Walker’s brother. The up-and-comer “was just so unpretentious,” Braeden told the CBS affiliate. “An easy-going, Southern California guy.

“I’ve worked with quite a few young people over the years,” he added. “But I had a feeling that he would make it on the big screen. You find very few actors with his basic honesty or sincerity.”

On this sad occasion, maybe you can perk yourself back up by perusing the below photo gallery of The Young and the Restless through the years. Say, while you’re here, maybe you can also tell us WTH that is on Braeden’s shoulder above? A squirrel in sunglasses? A ferret that got lei’d? We legit have no idea and have been majorly fixated on it to keep this article from leaving us depressed.