Relationships

Bindi Irwin and Chandler Powell are engaged! And he proposed on her 21st birthday!

The childhood sweethearts couldn't be happier!
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Bindi Irwin has announced her engagement to her childhood sweetheart Chandler Powell, and what makes the news even sweeter is that Chandler proposed on Bindi’s 21st birthday.

Bindi has announced the exciting news on social media, saying, “July 24th 2019 ❤️ On my birthday I said ‘yes’ and ‘forever’ to the love of my life.

“Chandler, close to 6 years ago I fell in love with you and every day since has been a whirlwind of adventure and true happiness. I’m so looking forwarding to spending our forever together as your wife. Here’s to a lifetime of friendship, purpose and unconditional love. — Now let’s get married already!”

She has also shared details about her engagement ring, which features a lab grown diamond and is made with rose gold recycled metal.

She said, “Chandler was incredibly thoughtful when he chose it, the ring captures the essence of who I am (with its vintage flare) and our life together, with the twisted band and scattered diamonds.”

Chandler has revealed he proposed at Australia Zoo, where the pair first met. In his own Instagram post he shares, “She said YES! ❤️💍

“Almost 6 years ago we met at Australia Zoo. I immediately fell head over heels for her kind and thoughtful heart that radiates so much light. Proposing in her very favorite place in the zoo, surrounded by animals, seemed like the perfect way to embark on this incredible new chapter in our lives. Bee, I love you more than anything in this world and I always will. Happy Birthday.

Bindi and Chandler’s romance is one that seems to have been written in the stars. The couple met at Australia Zoo, which had originally been opened in 1970 as a small reptile and fauna park by Bindi’s grandparents and Bindi’s late father Steve Irwin’s parents, Bob and Lyn Irwin.

Steve Irwin had grown up on the wildlife sanctuary, which later became Australia Zoo, and it is where he met his wife and Bindi’s mother, Terri Irwin, who he married in 1992.

Chandler had been visiting Australia Zoo with his family in 2013 when he met Bindi.

The pair hit it off and Chandler asked Terri for her blessing to keep in touch with Bindi.

They have basically grown up together. In an adorable Instagram post earlier this month Bindi highlighted just how well her partner knows her:

“A while back I ordered a charcoal latte and @chandlerpowell quietly knew I wouldn’t like it at all. I took this picture, tasted my grey drink and said, ‘Babe, this isn’t great.’

“Without a word Chandler gave me his cup of tea that he had ordered knowing I’d dislike mine. He then drank my fancy, slightly weird beverage telling me that he was glad I tried something new. That right there is love.”

Chandler’s response?

“I love you so much. This post made my entire day💛”

The professional wake boarder is a firm fourth member of the Irwin family, so entrenched in family life that he’s even included when the family retreats to Lady Elliot Island, a small but flourishing tropical coral paradise off Australia’s Queensland coast that the family has been coming to since Bindi was a baby; the place holds dear memories of Bindi’s father, the late Steve Irwin, who was tragically killed by a stingray in 2006.

Bindi, who like the rest of her family is a fierce conservationist, has previously said that Chandler is “The One”.

“I believe there’s always someone for everyone and when you find that one, as we have found each other, it’s a real blessing and a privilege,” Bindi told The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2017.

She added that her late father Steve would have wholeheartedly approved of him.

“We all think Dad would have loved Chandler,” she said.

Bindi’s brother Robert and mother Terri have wasted no time sharing their joy for their sister and daughter.

“Best day ever! Chandler asked and beautiful @BindiIrwin said yes. I am so very happy, and I know Steve would be too. Congratulations!!” wrote Terri on Twitter.

On Instagram Robert added: “I am beyond happy for you two. You are true soulmates and have always been so completely perfect for each other. Love you both and congratulations.”

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