Advertisement
Fashion:

MyTheresa invites you to their last Season Sale: Shop Acne Studios, Ami Paris up to 70% off

New year, new wardrobe! Plus you'll want to don the neatest outerwear you can get your hands on.

13 photos that prove Sir David Attenborough is a Royal Family BFF

  • Prince Charles and Princess Anne on unofficial visit to the BBC Television Studios at Lime Grove, London. They had just watched the 'Studio E' children's programme in which Cocky the cockatoo had appeared, and met David Attenborough afterwards, in 1958. (PA Images)
    1/13

    David Attenborough, Prince Charles and Princess Anne

    Prince Charles and Princess Anne on unofficial visit to the BBC Television Studios at Lime Grove, London. They had just watched the 'Studio E' children's programme in which Cocky the cockatoo had appeared, and met David Attenborough afterwards, in 1958. (PA Images)
    PA
  • Cocky, the cockatoo, had been brought back from Attenborough's last Zoo Quest expedition. This photo is from April 1958. (PA Images)
    2/13

    Princess Anne and Prince Charles with David Attenborough

    Cocky, the cockatoo, had been brought back from Attenborough's last Zoo Quest expedition. This photo is from April 1958. (PA Images)
    PA
  • Sir David Attenborough was knighted by the Queen in 1985 at an investiture at Buckingham Palace, London, with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan. (PA Images)
    3/13

    David Attenborough is Knighted

    Sir David Attenborough was knighted by the Queen in 1985 at an investiture at Buckingham Palace, London, with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan. (PA Images)
    PA
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • But 20 years later, the Queen went one step better by presenting Sir David Attenborough with the Insignia of the Order of Merit, a personal award recognising exceptional achievements in the advancement of arts, learning, literature and science. (Fiona Hanson/AFP)
    4/13

    David Attenborough given personal award by the Queen

    But 20 years later, the Queen went one step better by presenting Sir David Attenborough with the Insignia of the Order of Merit, a personal award recognising exceptional achievements in the advancement of arts, learning, literature and science. (Fiona Hanson/AFP)
    POOL/AFP via Getty Images
  • Prince William (left) and Sir David Attenborough, in 2009, at the opening of The Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, in London. It was the start of many appearances together. (PA Images)
    5/13

    Prince William opens Darwin Centre with Attenborough

    Prince William (left) and Sir David Attenborough, in 2009, at the opening of The Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, in London. It was the start of many appearances together. (PA Images)
    PA
  • William and Kate reunited with Sir David Attenborough 10 years later at the naming ceremony for the polar research ship the RSS Sir David Attenborough in 2019. They look pleased to be reunited. (Asadour Guzelian - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    6/13

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge at the Naming Ceremony for RSS Sir David Attenborough

    William and Kate reunited with Sir David Attenborough 10 years later at the naming ceremony for the polar research ship the RSS Sir David Attenborough in 2019. They look pleased to be reunited. (Asadour Guzelian - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Kate also had a solo engagement with David Attenborough as she attended the reopening of Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum in July 2017. Also pictured is museum director Sir Michael Dixon (R). (Yui Mok/AFP)
    7/13

    Duchess of Cambridge and Sir David

    Kate also had a solo engagement with David Attenborough as she attended the reopening of Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum in July 2017. Also pictured is museum director Sir Michael Dixon (R). (Yui Mok/AFP)
    AFP via Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II presented the Chatham House Prize 2019 to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal institute of International Affairs. The pair look comfortable in each other's company. (PA Images)
    8/13

    Queen with Sir David at Chatham House Prize 2019

    Queen Elizabeth II presented the Chatham House Prize 2019 to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal institute of International Affairs. The pair look comfortable in each other's company. (PA Images)
    PA
  • Two generations of royals with Sir David as Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry attended the "Our Planet" global premiere at the Natural History Museum in 2019. All the men look very dapper for the event. (John Phillips/Getty Images)
    9/13

    'Our Planet' Global Premiere on the red carpet

    Two generations of royals with Sir David as Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry attended the "Our Planet" global premiere at the Natural History Museum in 2019. All the men look very dapper for the event. (John Phillips/Getty Images)
    Getty Images
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • The Queen and Sir David have been spotted together at lots of events over the years. Here they are at an event at Buckingham Palace to showcase forestry projects that have been dedicated to the new conservation initiative - The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in 2016. (Yui Mok/PA Wire)
    10/13

    The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in 2016

    The Queen and Sir David have been spotted together at lots of events over the years. Here they are at an event at Buckingham Palace to showcase forestry projects that have been dedicated to the new conservation initiative - The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in 2016. (Yui Mok/PA Wire)
    PA
  • The Queen's husband, Prince Philip, also recognises the importance of Sir David's work. Here they are together at Australia House in London in December 2015 for one of the broadcaster's films. (PA images)
    11/13

    Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough

    The Queen's husband, Prince Philip, also recognises the importance of Sir David's work. Here they are together at Australia House in London in December 2015 for one of the broadcaster's films. (PA images)
    John Phillips
  • And the two reunited for the same project in 2017, when they filmed a landmark documentary. (ITV/Press Association)
    12/13

    The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy on TV

    And the two reunited for the same project in 2017, when they filmed a landmark documentary. (ITV/Press Association)
    PA
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • In 2020, William and Sir David teamed up again on another project. Sir David is on the judging panel for William's Earthshot Prize. (Royal Foundation)
    13/13

    Prince William with Sir David

    In 2020, William and Sir David teamed up again on another project. Sir David is on the judging panel for William's Earthshot Prize. (Royal Foundation)
    (Royal Foundation)
Prince Charles and Princess Anne on unofficial visit to the BBC Television Studios at Lime Grove, London. They had just watched the 'Studio E' children's programme in which Cocky the cockatoo had appeared, and met David Attenborough afterwards, in 1958. (PA Images)
Cocky, the cockatoo, had been brought back from Attenborough's last Zoo Quest expedition. This photo is from April 1958. (PA Images)
Sir David Attenborough was knighted by the Queen in 1985 at an investiture at Buckingham Palace, London, with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan. (PA Images)
But 20 years later, the Queen went one step better by presenting Sir David Attenborough with the Insignia of the Order of Merit, a personal award recognising exceptional achievements in the advancement of arts, learning, literature and science. (Fiona Hanson/AFP)
Prince William (left) and Sir David Attenborough, in 2009, at the opening of The Darwin Centre at The Natural History Museum, in London. It was the start of many appearances together. (PA Images)
William and Kate reunited with Sir David Attenborough 10 years later at the naming ceremony for the polar research ship the RSS Sir David Attenborough in 2019. They look pleased to be reunited. (Asadour Guzelian - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate also had a solo engagement with David Attenborough as she attended the reopening of Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum in July 2017. Also pictured is museum director Sir Michael Dixon (R). (Yui Mok/AFP)
Queen Elizabeth II presented the Chatham House Prize 2019 to Sir David Attenborough at the Royal institute of International Affairs. The pair look comfortable in each other's company. (PA Images)
Two generations of royals with Sir David as Prince William, Prince Charles, and Prince Harry attended the "Our Planet" global premiere at the Natural History Museum in 2019. All the men look very dapper for the event. (John Phillips/Getty Images)
The Queen and Sir David have been spotted together at lots of events over the years. Here they are at an event at Buckingham Palace to showcase forestry projects that have been dedicated to the new conservation initiative - The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy in 2016. (Yui Mok/PA Wire)
The Queen's husband, Prince Philip, also recognises the importance of Sir David's work. Here they are together at Australia House in London in December 2015 for one of the broadcaster's films. (PA images)
And the two reunited for the same project in 2017, when they filmed a landmark documentary. (ITV/Press Association)
In 2020, William and Sir David teamed up again on another project. Sir David is on the judging panel for William's Earthshot Prize. (Royal Foundation)
Rebecca Taylor
·Royal Correspondent

It’s hard to think of two institutions more British than the Royal Family and Sir David Attenborough.

So perhaps it makes sense that the TV naturalist is close to several members of the Royal Family, from the Queen herself, right down to Prince George.

Sir David’s relationship with the royals can be tracked back to 1958, when he was pictured meeting Princess Anne and Prince Charles, then aged six and nine, at the BBC studios after they watched a children’s programme being filmed there.

He also developed a good relationship with the Queen as he produced her annual Christmas broadcast between 1986 and 1991.

He had by that point already been knighted, being awarded the honour at Buckingham Palace in 1985.

Read more: Work out like a royal! Queen's great-nephew joins HIIT workout on Instagram

But in 2020, he was knighted for a second time. Sir David has also been given a personal award by the Queen, showing their special relationship.

Now Prince William is ensuring the royal friendship continues. He asked the naturalist to be on the judging panel for his new project, the Earthshot Prize.

The prize will give away £50m over the next decade, to projects which help solve some of the problems facing the world.

Sir David has even met the youngest Cambridges - giving Prince George a fossilised shark’s tooth as a present.

At 94, Sir David proves there is no age limit to a royal friendship.