The Latest 'Dancing with the Stars' Cast Reveal Includes a Surprising Royal Twist

Dancing with the Stars is officially hitting the ballroom once again. On April 22, ABC announced that the hit reality competition series is coming back for its 34th season—and they’ve already revealed one of the first celebs to join the cast: Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin.

“See you soon, America!” Robert wrote on his Instagram Story, sharing the exciting news. “@dancingwiththestars let’s do this!!!!”

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Robert is the son of the late Steve Irwin and the younger brother of Bindi Irwin, who also happens to be a DWTS alum. In fact, Bindi took home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy in season 21 with her partner, Derek Hough. No word yet on which pro Robert will be paired with, but the full list of celebrity contestants and pro dancers is expected to drop soon.

Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting—Robert Irwin has a surprising connection to the royal family. He currently serves as an ambassador for The Earthshot Prize, the global environmental award created by none other than Prince William, in collaboration with legendary biologist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough.

The Earthshot Prize recognizes five individuals or organizations each year for their impactful contributions to environmentalism. Robert’s involvement with the initiative brought him face-to-face with the royal himself. In fact, he appeared in a special Earth Day video alongside former Earthshot Prize winner Vera Voronova.

In the clip, the trio played a fun round of “Guess That Sound,” where Robert and Vera nailed their animal sound guesses like total pros.