William praises Attenborough's dedication as he wishes him happy 99th birthday
William met Sir David on Tuesday before attending a private screening of the broadcaster's new film, Ocean With David Attenborough, at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
The prince, in a message released on social media, wrote: 'As he turns 99 today, in his new film, Sir David has once again reminded us of the need to protect natural habitats – this time those beneath the ocean.
'He has dedicated his life to ensuring we understand the realities of what mankind is doing to the planet.
As he turns 99 today, in his new film, Sir David has once again reminded us of the need to protect natural habitats – this time those beneath the ocean. He has dedicated his life to ensuring we understand the realities of what mankind is doing to the planet.
However hard… pic.twitter.com/XC0yHKcLRU
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 8, 2025
'However hard-hitting his message is, Sir David always leaves us with a sense of hope and optimism that all is not lost and this film is no different.
'We must act together, with urgency, to restore our oceans. Happy Birthday, David. W'
The naturalist has been on our TV screens for more than seven decades presenting programmes such as Planet Earth and The Blue Planet.
Mike Gunton, creative director at BBC Studios Natural History Unit, told the PA news agency that Sir David must have 'one of the greatest legacies of any human being ever.'
Mr Gunton, who has worked with Sir David on documentaries including Attenborough And The Giant Dinosaur and Bafta-winning Planet Earth II, said: 'Each generation has its own kind of personal legacy from him, and I think that's remarkable'.
'But also, there's a broader, I suppose, global legacy, which I think is that he has shown us wonders, he's helped us understand wonders, and he's encouraged us to protect these wonders.
'If you could do that in a lifetime, and speak to hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people and inspire them to do all that, that's got to be one of the greatest legacies of any human being ever.
'And I think he's aware of that, and the responsibility of that, and he often talks about the privilege of being able to do that, and it's a privilege for those of us who have worked with him to have.'
Mr Gunton began working with the broadcaster aged 29 and said it has been 'a life-defining experience' for him.
He told PA: 'Every programme I have made with him has been a remarkable experience which the audience have always found completely memorable and worthwhile and that's a joy for anybody, to make things that are remembered, you know, they're historic, they're part of human history.'
Sir David was born David Frederick Attenborough on May 8 1926, in London, the son of an academic and principal of University College Leicester.
Before joining the BBC in 1952, he studied geology at the University of Cambridge and served two years in the Royal Navy.
He made his reputation with the ground-breaking Zoo Quest series, which he hosted for 10 years on the BBC.
In 1965 he became controller of BBC2, overseeing the advent of colour TV, and he later became BBC director of programming.
Ultimately, however, life as a broadcast executive did not appeal and he returned with relief to his early passions, programme-making and filming wildlife.
His famous whispering voice captured the imaginations of the nation in 1979 when he was seen mingling and bonding with a family of gorillas in Life On Earth and its sequel, The Living Planet, in 1984.
The following year, he was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II before being awarded a Knight Grand Cross honour in 2022.
The TV presenter has two children, Susan and Robert, with his late wife Jane, whom he married in 1950.
In recent years, Sir David, who resides in Richmond, London, has presented shows including Dynasties, Prehistoric Planet and Planet Earth III.
In celebration of his 99th birthday, his new documentary about the health of the ocean airs in cinemas from Thursday.
Also to mark his birthday, John Murray Press is giving at least 1,000 copies of his new book, Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness, to schools and libraries across the UK.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside David Beckham's 10 year battle to bag a knighthood after hat-trick of setbacks including tax row & leaked emails
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT has been ten years of tears, toil and the one unfortunate tantrum, but FINALLY David Beckham has landed his knighthood. Never has a man grafted harder — or deserved the nod — more. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 David Beckham has landed his knighthood Credit: Getty 8 David and Victoria with his OBE in 2003 Credit: Rex Features 8 A last-minute Beckham free kick sends England to the 2002 World Cup finals Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Quite how Goldenballs has turned things around following a hat-trick of personal disasters — more on them later — is testament to both the man himself and his incredible work ethic. Last night, a friend said: 'Quite simply, this is the ultimate accolade for David. 'Forget the medals, the trophies, the global fame and the millions in the bank. As a genuine and devoted royalist this means more to him than anything. It is his lifetime's work — and he's still only 50. 'People don't seem to realise how hard David works. His determination and work ethic is second to none. 'Despite all the setbacks, he knew he could turn things around and prove people wrong. And he's done it. 'His family and friends are incredibly proud, and David himself is beyond happy. 'After all these years, he's still a bit of a mum's boy and is so thrilled his mum Sandra gets to see this. It is a huge moment in the Beckham clan.' For millions of fans, the knighthood is long overdue. And certainly, within hours of The Sun breaking the news yesterday, social media was flooded with messages of congratulations. Only a cynic, or a republican, could deny David Robert Joseph Beckham this honour. David Beckham meets with King Charles at Chelsea Flower Show A former England captain — a player whose last-gasp free kick against Greece in 2001 sent the nation through to the World Cup finals — his career on the pitch was Roy Of The Rovers stuff. But it is off the pitch where Becks has really come into his own, single-handedly revolutionising how players regard themselves. Rather than being seen as a fledgling commodity, Becks (ably assisted by a commercially driven team who recognised his poster boy looks, talent and genuine goodness) had the foresight to market himself as a brand. In short, he has transcended the sport. With more endorsement deals than you can shake a stick at, such canniness meant that by the age of 35, David knew he need never kick a ball or work again, if he so chose. Until Becks came along, retirement for top-flight players — many of whom leave school without so much as a GCSE to their name — meant a life of lost identity and panic. Now, inspired by Becks Inc, newer stars have secured their own marketing rights, ensuring a golden future away from the pitch. A generation of footballers' kids and grandkids will have David to thank for their homes, cars and private school education. In short, David was, and continues to be, a trailblazer. While it is his wife — the soon-to- be Lady Beckham — who is the acclaimed fashion designer, ironically it is Beckham who created the defining aesthetic of the 21st Century: The tattoo sleeve. Trailblazer His first inking came in 1999 — a dedication to his eldest son, Brooklyn. How sad, then, that the 26-year-old influencer, who hasn't spoken to his dad meaningfully in seven months, only found out about the knighthood after being directed to The Sun's exclusive story by pals. David would never ever want to be uncouth and openly brag about his honour. He knows how to behave A friend However, this could well be a decorum thing. After all, once the letter from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood comes in the post, recipients are politely asked to keep schtum. It is, as David well knows, considered terribly poor etiquette to tell all and sundry in advance of the official publication. Yesterday, however, he excitedly took to Instagram to re-post reports, published in this newspaper, about the King's latest Birthday Honours. A friend added: 'Honestly, after all the speculation over the past few weeks, until he's on bended knee in front of the King, David won't quite believe it. 'Obviously he's shared the news with his immediate family but he won't be doing any formal celebrations until after the ceremony. 8 Beckham with Charles last year as he is named an ambassador for the King's Foundation Credit: PA 8 Prince William and David visit the London Air Ambulance charity last year Credit: Getty 8 Beckham with Sandra and Ted at the premiere of his 2023 Netflix documentary Credit: AP 'David would never ever want to be uncouth and openly brag about his honour. He knows how to behave. 'He is still not in contact with Brooklyn and, frankly, it would have been weird for him to reach out and tell him, so he didn't. It is up to Brooklyn now if he wishes to extend an olive branch and send on his congratulations. 'It is so sad because family means everything to David and he would love his entire clan to be at the investiture. Only time will tell though, but at the moment it is looking unlikely. But for now, David wants to just focus on the positives and celebrate this incredible achievement.' One can only imagine how proud his loving parents, Sandra and Ted, must be. The whole family adores the monarchy, as David's remarkable 12-hour vigil in line in 2022 to pay his respects to the late Queen proved. Over the past year he has also developed a touching relationship with King Charles — something a young Chingford-raised David could, surely, never have imagined. So much so that the monarch even sent over a birthday gift by courier to mark the star's 50th last month. Again, David has only shared with his inner circle what the gift was, although I am told it is, 'Something personal to Charles and David, something special'. Human side In return, of course, David has sent the King regular supplies of his homegrown honey. His friendship with Prince William, meanwhile, continues to flourish. The pair are on texting terms, and as William is an Aston Villa fan and Patron of the FA, much of their chat is football-related. But William also credits Becks with helping him navigate fame and the endless public scrutiny he faces each day. Despite David's well-documented highs, the path to this coveted knighthood has not been smooth. After all these years, he's still a bit of a mum's boy and is so thrilled his mum Sandra gets to see this. It is a huge moment in the Beckham clan A friend His sporting and charity endeavours — he has been a devoted Unicef ambassador for 20 years and was recently on the front cover of Time magazine in recognition of his philanthropy — should, on paper, have seen him recognised years ago. But he has had some widely publicised, erm, hiccups. These include the leaking of private emails in 2017 in which, embarrassingly, he labelled the Honours Committee 'unappreciative c***s'. Not very decorous. But in credit to David, he refused to kowtow to Russian hackers and pay their £1million ransom to stop the hacked emails being made public. While initially there was some outrage, his genuine passion and frustration also showed his human side. 'Thoroughly decent' It only endeared him further to many of the public, me included, who have variously questioned the committee's track record. Alongside a raft of other celebrities, including Ant and Dec, Gary Lineker, Wayne Rooney and Bob Geldof, he was also famously caught up in the Ingenious tax avoidance scheme. HMRC won a case against the film financing tax-avoidance scheme, which then saw those involved landed with a huge backdated tax bill. However, in 2021 David was cleared by tax chiefs after proving his financial affairs were all in order, giving him the green light for a knighthood. And earlier this month he appeared on The Sunday Times Rich List, worth a combined £500million alongside his Spice Girl wife. A £100million 2022 World Cup deal with Qatar, a state where it is illegal to be gay, did not sit well with many fans — especially as he had previously graced the cover of gay lifestyle magazine Attitude and has always been a proud LGBTQ ally. But again, he was vindicated following the World Cup, with Qatar welcoming all-comers and showing willingness to be more moderate in its views. Becks' recent four-part Netflix documentary — one of the streamer's most watched shows in 2023 — was also a game-changer for the former Manchester United midfield ace. David has lived an utterly extraordinary life but, through it all, he has remained a kind, patient and thoroughly decent man A friend In it, he did not shy away from any topics and refused to make it dedicated solely to his do-gooding. Indeed, it even referenced his worst footballing moment — that 1998 sending-off against Argentina in the France World Cup that led to effigies of him being hanged across the country. Showing just how full circle he has come, the documentary featured Diego Simeone, the other player at the centre of the red card incident. The pair have long been pals. Says a friend: 'David has lived an utterly extraordinary life but, through it all, he has remained a kind, patient and thoroughly decent man. 'Utterly extraordinary life 'Every single day he is approached for selfies and autographs, and he does it all with such good grace. He knows he has a responsibility and does his utmost to use his platform for good. 'He also does countless work behind the scenes that doesn't get written about or publicised. 'You would be hard-pressed to find someone with a bad word to say against him. 'It has been a long time coming, but finally David has what he has always dreamed of.' Arise, Sir David. 8 Brooklyn and dad David Credit: Getty
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
James Norton and Rebecca Adlington take part in 10-hour charity swim
On Friday, the two were among those to take the plunge in a 10-hour endurance ocean swim at Joss Bay in Kent, to raise money for the Blue Marine Foundation, a charity committed to addressing overfishing. Ahead of the event, they shared their earliest memories of the sea and pressed the importance of allowing future generations to 'experience the magic of healthy seas'. Ms Adlington told the PA news agency: 'I've always felt a deep connection to water, so when the opportunity came up to support coastal restoration through this event with Talisker and Blue Marine Foundation, it just felt like a natural fit. 'As a swimming challenge, this one stands out because of its direct impact on protecting and preserving marine life, with £150 from every kilometre swum helping to fund essential conservation work.' The two-time gold medal swimmer added: 'I hope people see this event as more than just a challenge, it's a call to action.' A report published by Blue Marine Foundation in July 2024 noted a 92% UK reduction in seagrass meadows and a 95% decline in native oyster reefs over the last century. Happy Valley actor Norton said: 'Like everyone, I'm in awe of the ocean. It's wild, powerful, and under threat. 'Taking a stand is about protecting biodiversity and ensuring future generations can experience the magic of healthy seas.' He added that his family goes by the mantra 'you'll never regret a swim' but admitted he had never been involved with this level of endurance swimming. New government regulations came into force on Friday which give water industry regulator Ofwat the power to retrospectively prevent bonuses paid in cash, shares or long-term incentive schemes to chief executives and chief financial officers for breaches of environmental, customer service or financial standards in a given financial year. Ms Adlington did not have a direct challenge for water companies in the UK but added that the Blue Marine Foundation was committed to coastal regeneration and improving UK waters. Ahead of the event, Norton said: 'My earliest memories of the sea are going on day trips to Scarborough. 'My whole village would cram into a coach and head to the beach for a day of fish and chips, rock and candy floss.' For every kilometre swum by participants at Joss Bay between 7am and 5pm on Friday, Talisker, who are supporting the event, will donate £150 to the foundation. The company has also pledged a further £112,608 to Blue Marine Foundation through sales of a limited edition whisky.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside Beyonce's huge London Cowboy Carter show with flying car, bucking mechanical bull & racy outfits
Beyonce had eight outfit changes during her first night Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BEYONCE'S Cowboy Carter tour gets off to a flying start at the Tottenham Stadium. The American singer rode a mechanical bull and flew around the stands in a red car as she performed 40 songs during a high tempo three hour set. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Beyonce's Cowboy Carter tour gets off to a flying start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Credit: PA 5 Showstopper cowgirl in her leotard and chaps Credit: Instagram 5 Beyonce's three-hour set was a hit Credit: Instagram Beyonce, 43, had eight outfit changes during her first night - including a new look where she wore a sparkly white leotard with tasselled chaps. She will play five more dates at the North London stadium, with the second taking place tonight. Her family have joined her in the capital for the shows, with Beyoncé's eldest daughter Blue Ivy, 13, taking a starring role in her dance troupe. Beyonce's other daughter, Rumi, seven, also made her debut on a British stage at the concert - appearing by her mum's side as she performed her song Protector. She will celebrate her eighth birthday, alongside her twin brother Sir Carter, during their stay in London and insiders said Beyoncé was planning a party for the pair. A source said: 'Beyonce's family are always with her when she's touring and the London dates coincide with the twins' birthdays. 'She is planning on throwing a party for them and they'll be seeing bits of London on her days off. 'Beyoncé absolutely loves her work but it's always family first - her children are her priority.' Beyonce will play 31 international dates on her Cowboy Carter tour - and is expected to make £240million from the concerts. The Sun first revealed Beyonce was planning her six night residency at the Tottenham Stadium last September. Her concerts kick off a huge summer of music in the UK, with Oasis, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Blackpink, Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Billie Eilish all booked to play in London this year. 'In our cowboy era,' fashion fans race to Primark to get their hands on 'summer concert essential' that's loved by Beyonce 5 Beyoncé tours the stadium in a flying car Credit:
