King Charles and Queen Camilla have led birthday tributes to Sir David Attenborough as the naturalist celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday. The royal couple shared a carousel of photographs on the official royal family Instagram account, captioning it: “Wishing Sir David Attenborough a very happy 100th birthday.”
Former England footballer David Beckham also paid tribute, posting on Instagram: “Happy 100th Birthday to our National Treasure.” Other stars including Morgan Freeman, Dame Judi Dench, and Geri Halliwell-Horner joined a WWF video tribute, lending their voices to a reinterpretation of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described Attenborough as “a true national treasure and a pioneer in his field.” Broadcaster Ben Fogle called him “the most important teacher, guide, informer and communicator in my life,” while actor Asa Butterfield said Attenborough’s documentaries filled him with “wonder at how incredible this place is.”
A live celebration at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Kirsty Young and broadcast on BBC One, will feature music from Attenborough’s programmes. Performers include Bastille frontman Dan Smith, Sigur Rós, and the BBC Concert Orchestra, playing scores from iconic moments such as the snakes and iguanas chase from Planet Earth II.
