Prince William has paid tribute to Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday, describing the environmentalist icon as someone who “opened our eyes to the beauty of our planet”. The Prince of Wales appeared at the Royal Albert Hall to lead celebrations for the beloved broadcaster’s centenary, thanking him for his guidance and friendship.
In a speech broadcast on BBC One, William praised Attenborough’s “incredible storytelling”, which he said had “transformed the way we see the only home that we have – Planet Earth”. The prince, who launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020 with Attenborough’s counsel, noted that generations had benefited from his “sense of urgent optimism that has made all the difference”.
William revealed that his own children, like millions around the world, had grown up with Attenborough’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 added: “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.”
The event featured tributes from Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Beckham, Morgan Freeman, Bill Bailey, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the Duke of Sussex. Attenborough, born in 1926 in London, the same year as the late Queen Elizabeth II, has spent over 70 years bringing nature into living rooms worldwide through programmes such as Life on Earth, The Private Life of Plants, and The Blue Planet.
