Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday was celebrated with a special event at London's Royal Albert Hall on Friday, 8th May, marked by a unique short film titled 'A Very Special Delivery', produced by BBC Studios.
The film features King Charles III making a surprise appearance, writing Attenborough's birthday card. The King reflects on their decades-long friendship, recalling their first meeting in 1958 when he was nine years old and visited the set of BBC's 'Zoo Quest' with his sister Princess Anne.
In the film, the King praises Attenborough for 'revealing the beauty and wonders of nature to audiences around the world' and shares his determination to protect the planet. The card is then delivered by a butler in a Land Rover, but a fallen tree forces a border collie named Flynn to take over, with Take That's 'Greatest Day' playing in the background.
The natural world then collaborates to ensure the letter reaches Attenborough, with help from eagles, a hedgehog, a red squirrel, geese, an otter, a swan, a duck, a fox, a deer, and a barn owl. The film was directed by Rob Hifle, known for 'The Crown' and 'Einstein and the Bomb', with VFX by Lux Aeterna.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was 'delighted' to feature in the tribute and followed the filming process with interest, though he was sorry not to meet the barn owl. The Queen was touched that her dog Moley made a cameo. Jack Bootle, BBC's Head of Specialist Factual, noted that the tribute celebrates Attenborough's centenary and his shared love of wildlife with the King.
