The Prince of Wales has led tributes to the beloved environmentalist Sir David Attenborough on his centenary, saying he “transformed the way we see the only home that we have”
Prince William has paid tribute to Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday, saying the environmentalist icon “opened our eyes to the beauty of our planet”.
The Prince of Wales appeared tonight at the Royal Albert Hall to lead celebrations for Sir David’s centenary. The future king thanked the beloved environmentalist for his guidance, saying his friendship had strengthened his own determination to highlight the planet’s natural wonders.
At the special event, broadcast on BBC One and hosted by Kirsty Young, the prince heralded the presenter’s “incredible storytelling” which had “transformed the way we see the only home that we have – Planet Earth”. William, who in 2020 launched his own global environmental awards – The Earthshot Prize – with Sir David’s counsel, said generations had benefitted from his “sense of urgent optimism that has made all the difference”.
As part of a week of celebrations marking Sir David’s centenary, a host of famous faces from the world of royalty, conservation, sport and entertainment thanked him for having an effect on their lives.
Tributes poured in from stars including Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Beckham, Morgan Freeman and Bill Bailey, who have all shared Sir David’s enthusiasm for campaugning to protect the planet. Birthday wishes were also delivered from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Duke of Sussex.
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At the Albert Hall, William told how his children, like millions of others around the world, had grown up with Sir David’s expertise, providing “a window into the wonders of nature that shaped their understanding of our planet, and their belief that it is something worth fighting for”.
He said: “It is a rare privilege to celebrate a century of life. But it is rarer still when that person has transformed the way we see the only home that we have – Planet Earth.
“David, for decades, your voice has been a constant in our lives, guiding us through rainforests and oceans, over mountains and into the very fabric of life.
“Through your boundless curiosity, gentle wisdom, and unwavering dedication, you have opened our eyes to the beauty of our planet, and to its fragility, reminding us of our collective responsibility to protect it.
“You have been a guiding light in the work we now undertake to safeguard the natural world. Long before many of us found our voice on the challenges we face, you were speaking with clarity, urgency, and optimism. And it is that sense of urgent optimism that has made all the difference.”
Born in London on May 8, 1926, the same year as the late Queen Elizabeth II, Attenborough was raised on the grounds of what is now the University of Leicester, where his father was a senior leader.
His fascination with nature developed when he was a young boy, riding his bicycle into the surrounding countryside where he collected treasures such as abandoned birds’ nests, the shed skin of a snake and, most importantly, fossils.
Scientists, politicians and conservationists have this week all celebrated the man who has brought frolicking gorillas, breaching whales and tiny poisonous frogs into living rooms around the world for more than 70 years.
Through BBC programs such as Life on Earth, The Private Life of Plants and The Blue Planet, Attenborough has illuminated the beauty, ferocity and sometimes downright weirdness of nature in a hushed melodic voice that conveys his own awe at what he is witnessing.
Viewers who might never leave their hometowns were transported to the Himalayas, the Amazon and the unexplored forests of Papua New Guinea. But behind the stunning images was an attention to scientific accuracy that helped teach people about complex subjects like evolution, animal behaviour and biodiversity.
And as the evidence mounted, he began to sound the alarm about climate change, ocean plastic and other human-caused threats to the planet. The Prince of Wales said that Sir David had given us “one of the greatest gifts” in not just “understanding of what is at risk” but a “belief that positive change is still possible”.
Musicians who have featured on Sir David’s BBC Planet Earth TV series performed during the evening, with Dan Smith, frontman of Brit Award‑winning act Bastille, joining the BBC Concert Orchestra to perform their track Pompeii, which was featured in Planet Earth III.
Icelandic band Sigur Ros also performed their hit single Hoppipolla, which was used in the promotion of Planet Earth and Planet Earth II. The BBC Concert Orchestra wowed the audience with scores associated with some of the most unforgettable moments from Sir David’s programmes, including the dramatic snakes and iguanas chase from Planet Earth II, and the powerful wave-washing orcas sequence from Frozen Planet II.
William closed his speech with a promise to help the next generation see the value in protecting the environment. He said: “If there is a baton to be taken up, it is the one you have prepared us to carry.
“Sir David, thank you for your wisdom, your kindness, your dedication, and for reminding us, always, of the wonder of the world we call home.”
In a special recorded video message at the event tonight, the King – who has been a lifelong admirer of the beloved naturalist – also delivered a personal tribute to his friend. Charles penned a handwritten congratulatory message from Balmoral Castle to London for the beloved naturalist.
In the magical short, “A Very Special Delivery,” the monarch’s birthday card journey is initially thwarted by a fallen tree – only to be rescued by a roll call of heroic animals including an eagle, a fox, a red squirrel and an otter who traverse the British Isles to ensure that Sir David receives his Royal dispatch.
To a tune from The King’s Piper, the film begins with Charles penning his tribute to Sir David in the Library of Balmoral Castle, with Her Majesty The Queen’s dog, Moley, scampering around his desk.
The King recounts a seven-decade friendship with the naturalist that began when the then nine-year-old Prince Charles visited the set of the BBC children’s programme Zoo Quest in 1958 with his sister Princess Anne.
The lifelong environmentalist said: “It is amazing to think that you and I have known one another for more than 60 years; indeed, I believe we first met in 1958, almost a decade before the age of colour television, and of course our paths have crossed many times since.
“Over those decades you have revealed the beauty and wonders of Nature to audiences around the world in new and marvellous ways. In so doing, you have shared my determination to highlight the urgent need to protect and preserve this precious planet of ours – and all Life on Earth – for future generations.
“Thank you, then, for all that you have done. And on behalf of the whole nation, I wish you a very happy 100th birthday.”
