Sir David Attenborough is celebrating his 100th birthday, marking a milestone in a career that has spanned seven decades and significantly shaped global awareness of conservation and climate change, according to Al Jazeera. The celebrated naturalist has produced some of the world’s most iconic wildlife documentaries.

Royal Ties and Birthday Tributes

Prince William hailed Sir David Attenborough as having achieved a ‘remarkable milestone’ during a 100th birthday concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall. ‘It is a rare privilege to celebrate a century of life,’ Prince William said. ‘But it is rarer still when that person has transformed the way we see the only home that we have – planet Earth.’

King Charles III and Queen Camilla sent a birthday message and shared photographs of Sir David with a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1958. In one photo, Sir David is introducing them to Cocky the cockatoo from his BBC Zoo Quest TV series.

Messages from A-Listers and Conservationists

Birthday messages from a range of A-listers, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Dame Judi Dench, were played on screen during the concert. Former England men’s football captain Sir David Beckham called Sir David ‘our National Treasure,’ while actress and activist Joanna Lumley sent a video message with help from the people of Stroud, Gloucestershire.

TV naturalist and presenter Chris Packham noted that Sir David Attenborough ‘has made such a significant contribution to engaging people and developing a love for all of life on Earth.’ The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) shared a tribute video, voiced by actors including Dame Judi Dench, Morgan Freeman, and Iwan Rheon, featuring a spoken-word version of the Louis Armstrong classic song, ‘What a Wonderful World.’

Legacy and Impact on Future Generations

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer paid tribute, stating that working with Sir David Attenborough is ‘really about the existence of our planet.’ Sir David Attenborough has been credited with dismantling the idea that climate issues are happening ‘somewhere else,’ according to King Charles. Young people continue to follow his work for a sense of continuity in an unstable world.

In his speech, Prince William noted that ‘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.’ Sir David Attenborough expressed that he was ‘completely overwhelmed’ by the messages he had received ahead of his birthday and thanked everyone sincerely for their kind words.

Friday evening’s concert at the Royal Albert Hall is the climax of a week of special events in honor of Sir David, who was born in 1926 and joined the BBC in 1952. The 90-minute concert, hosted by presenter Kirsty Young, will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 20:30 BST.

The celebration also featured a cast of helpers from the natural world, including eagles, a hedgehog, a red squirrel, and a flock of geese, who delivered the King’s birthday letter to Sir David at the concert. The Queen’s dog, Moley, was seen scampering around the King’s feet as he composed the letter, which included warmest congratulations from the King and Queen.