"He is a secular saint": Prince Harry shares gushing tribute to celebrate Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday
Prince Harry shared a sweet tribute for David Attenborough's 100th birthday
Prince Harry has shared a heartfelt tribute to David Attenborough ahead of the legendary broadcaster’s 100th birthday, describing him as a “secular saint” beloved across Britain.
Writing in Time magazine, Harry reflected on Attenborough’s extraordinary influence, saying that for many people in the UK, he is “more than a broadcaster”.
Prince Harry writes essay for David Attenborough’s 100th birthday
In the emotional essay, Harry praised Attenborough’s decades of work bringing the natural world into people’s homes through groundbreaking documentaries.
“For almost anyone who grew up in the United Kingdom, Sir David Attenborough is more than a broadcaster; he is a secular saint. He is an institutional pillar,” the Duke began.
He compared the veteran naturalist to something as quintessentially British “as a cup of tea”.
Harry went on to praise Attenborough’s ability to connect audiences with nature.
“He has earned the world’s trust by simply showing us that our environment is worth appreciating. He didn’t demand our attention, but drew us in with the wonder of nature all the same.”
The Duke also reflected on Attenborough’s increasingly urgent warnings about climate change and environmental destruction.
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Harry said that when someone who has “quite literally seen it all” speaks about the loss of the planet’s stability, he is not being dramatic, but instead “reporting from the front lines”.
He also praised Attenborough for continuing to inspire younger generations.
“At 100, Sir David Attenborough has spent a lifetime delivering us the facts with patience, honesty, and wonder,” Harry concluded. “He has shown us the world in all its brilliance and fragility, and in doing so has left humanity with both a gift and a responsibility.”
Prince William shares video message
Prince William also spoke out with some kind words to honour Sir David on his birthday.
In a video posted to the Earthshot Prize social media accounts, Prince William said: “Happy 100th David. I cannot believe it’s your 100th birthday. Thank you so much for all your support with Earthshot Prize.”
“Everything you do continues to inspire me,” he added. “Have a very happy day.”
William could be seen stood on the grounds of Windsor as he spoke to the camera, sporting a shirt and blazer.
Other stars also appeared in the video, including conservationist Robert Irwin, Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres, former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki, Earthshot winner Meaghan Brosnan and Ingka CEO Jesper Brodin.
David Attenborough and the royal family
Attenborough has long shared a close bond with the Royal Family, particularly King Charles and Prince William, both of whom are passionate environmental campaigners.
William previously worked alongside Attenborough on the Earthshot Prize, and praised the broadcaster’s hopeful outlook following the release of Ocean with David Attenborough.
“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,” William wrote at the time. “We must act together, with urgency, to restore our oceans.”
Meanwhile, the king and Queen Camilla also shared their own tribute on social media.
“Wishing Sir David Attenborough a very happy 100th birthday,” the royal couple wrote, alongside a series of nature emojis, before adding, “Enjoy your special celebration this evening!”
Attenborough marked his milestone birthday on May 8 with the release of a brand-new documentary, Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure.
The film revisits some of the broadcaster’s most iconic moments, including his famous encounters with gorillas in Rwanda, while also examining the fragile state of the world’s oceans.
Reflecting on the project, Attenborough stressed the importance of restoring the oceans. He said that the documentary aimed to show “how it can be restored to health”.
The broadcasting icon recently made history once again after becoming the oldest-ever recipient of a Daytime Emmy Award for his narration work on Netflix’s Secret Lives of Orangutans.
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