Meghan Markle ‘jumps in anger’ after Irwin Family’s Kangaroo Snub
Meghan Markle is said to be furious after the Irwin family publicly praised Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales for helping to name a baby kangaroo at Australia Zoo – reigniting tensions amid claims the Sussexes were previously frozen by conservationists during a visit to Australia.
RadarOnline.com can reveal the controversy that arose after Robert Irwin revealed William, 43, Catherine, 44, and their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight, helped choose the name “Cwtch” – the Welsh word for “cuddle” – for a new eastern gray kangaroo joey at Australia Zoo in Queensland.
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Robert Irwin Kangaroo naming tribute sparks tension claims in Sussex
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Robert Irwin revealed the Wales family helped name a new baby kangaroo, and Markle is said to have been upset.
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Robert, son of the late wildlife icon Steve Irwin, shared the announcement in a video posted online with his mother, Terri Irwin, and sister Bindi Irwin.
But insiders now tell us that the loving royal collaboration behind the scenes in Montecito has caused anger.
A source close to the Sussexes claimed that Harry, 41, and Markle, 44, had hoped to interact privately with the Irwins during previous visits to Australia, but quietly felt sidelined due to the family’s close relationship with the Waleses.
The insider added: “Harry and Meghan were very interested in meeting the Irwins because of their shared interest in conservation work, but the feeling was that the family’s loyalties lay firmly with William and Catherine. Meghan has taken the kangaroo naming story as another very public reminder of where those loyalties lie, and is jumping in anger as a result.”
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‘Harry and Meghan were never embraced in the same way’
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Prince William and Princess Catherine chose the name ‘Cwtch’ for the eastern gray joey.
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Another source familiar with the situation claimed that the highly publicized nature of the Waleses’ involvement particularly irritated Markle.
They added: “It’s not really about the kangaroo itself. It’s about the symbolism of it all: the glowing public praise for William and Catherine and the sense that Harry and Meghan have never been embraced in the same way, despite efforts to build connections in Australia.”
In the Instagram video announcing the Joey’s name, Robert praised the Wales family for helping him choose the title Cwtch.
He said: “I am very proud to announce that my friends, the Wales family, have helped us name our beautiful new Joey.
“Our new joey’s name is Cwtch, which is Welsh for ‘cuddle’, the absolutely perfect name for a joey-kangaroo as at this age they love to cuddle and spend most of their time in that pouch with their mother.”
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Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte thanked by Robert Irwin
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The Irwin family celebrated the contributions of George, Charlotte and Louis.
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Robert also directly thanked the Welsh children for their contribution to the naming process.
He continued: “I would like to send a special thank you to Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte for helping me find a brilliant name for this little one.”
The young conservationist also praised the family’s wider commitment to the environment and the protection of wildlife, an area that both William and Catherine have long championed through royal initiatives aimed at sustainability and conservation.
Robert added: “It’s so important that we conserve all our animals, including the icons, the kangaroos. These guys play a really important role in the Australian bush, and out there in the ecosystem they’re just crucial.
“With all the animals we support and all the conservation efforts we undertake around the world, it’s about making sure we give back to wildlife and the wild places they live.”
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Robert Irwin praised the royal family for their commitment to global wildlife protection.
He ended the clip by saying: “Cwtch is now proudly part of our family here at Australia Zoo.”
Terri later described it as “so special” that Catherine, William and their children had chosen the name, as royal fans flooded social media with supportive comments celebrating the Wales family’s partnership with Australia Zoo.
One supporter wrote: “What a great and thoughtful name.”
Another added: “Aw, my goodness, what a little cutie. And great job, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, on coming up with this adorable name.”
A third royal fan gushed: “We saw Cwtch yesterday! And we’re all the way from Wales too.”
