Prince William praised Sir David Attenborough’s extraordinary contribution to the natural world as the broadcaster and environmentalist celebrated his 100th birthday with a special concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Friday.
The event honoured Sir David’s seven-decade career with live music, archival footage, celebrity tributes and speeches from royal figures and longtime friends.
“It is a rare privilege to celebrate a century of life,” Prince William said in his tribute. “But it is rarer still when that person has transformed the way we see the only home that we have, planet Earth.”
He added that Sir David’s storytelling had shaped younger generations, including his own children.
“Like millions across the world, my children have grown up with your incredible storytelling, 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.
The Prince of Wales also reflected on his personal friendship with Sir David, saying, “You have strengthened my own determination to act.”
King Charles also paid tribute through a pre-recorded video message from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire. In the message, the King and Queen sent their “warmest congratulations on such a special occasion”.
Over the decades, the King said, Sir David had “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,” the King added.
The video showed the King writing a personal letter to Sir David while Queen Camilla’s dog Moley wandered nearby. The letter was then symbolically delivered to the broadcaster’s hands at the concert through a filmed sequence featuring wildlife including eagles, geese, a hedgehog and a red squirrel.
Hosted by Kirsty Young, the evening featured appearances from broadcaster Sir Michael Palin and performances by Icelandic band Sigur Rós and Bastille frontman Dan Smith alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra.
Birthday tributes from celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Dame Judi Dench, Olivia Colman, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Camila Cabello, Hans Zimmer and Coldplay singer Chris Martin were also played during the concert.
“Thank you truly for everything you’ve done and continue to do, for our very precious planet and all its inhabitants,” DiCaprio said in his message.
Sir Michael Palin reflected on Sir David’s enduring appeal, saying, “He wants to meet these people and see these animals. It’s not something he’s been asked to do, it’s something that fulfils him.”
The evening also revisited some of the most memorable moments from Sir David’s documentaries, including scenes from ‘Planet Earth II’ and ‘Frozen Planet II’, accompanied by live orchestral performances.
As the concert drew to a close, the BBC announced that Sir David would soon narrate a new natural history series, ‘Blue Planet III’.
The celebration ended with a montage from Sir David’s career accompanied by his own narration of the lyrics to ‘What A Wonderful World’, before receiving another standing ovation from the audience.
