Happy Birthday Sir David Attenborough; the environmental link between the 97 year old and the King

It has truly been a momentous long weekend, has it not? We’ve had the crowning of King Charles III, a coronation concert featuring Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, coronation street parties, big lunches and The Big Help Out taking place today. But there is one more moment we need to celebrate today - that being Sir David Attenborough, who turns 97 today. It would also appear that throughout Sir David’s championing of conservation issues is something that has led both he and the King to work together on occasion.

Despite their different backgrounds and areas of expertise, both Sir David Attenborough and King Charles III have been outspoken advocates for environmental conservation and sustainability. The pair first met in the 1980s, when King Charles III was serving as the President of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Sir David Attenborough was already a well-known naturalist and broadcaster at the time, and the two quickly bonded over their shared passion for the environment and conservation.

Over the years, the two men have collaborated on a number of initiatives related to environmental conservation. In 1990, they worked together on a documentary about the rainforest, called The Queen's Green Planet, which highlighted the importance of preserving the world's forests. More recently, in 2019, they teamed up for the documentary Climate Change: The Facts, which examined the impact of climate change on the natural world.

In addition to their shared interests in the environment, both Sir David Attenborough and King Charles III are involved in a number of organisations related to conservation and sustainability. King Charles III is the patron of several environmental charities, including the WWF and the British Ecological Society, while Sir David Attenborough is a trustee of the World Wildlife Fund and the patron of several other conservation groups.

Despite their busy schedules, the two men have remained close over the years, and have been seen together at a number of events and public appearances. In 2018, they attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, where they discussed environmental issues with other world leaders. They were also spotted together at the premiere of the documentary Our Planet in 2019, which was narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Reflecting on their long-standing friendship, King Charles III has said of Sir David Attenborough: "He is a constant source of inspiration and has opened up a whole new world to us." Sir David Attenborough has also spoken warmly about the King, describing him as a "passionate environmentalist" and a "great ally in the fight against climate change."

So a mutual admiration between the King of England and the King of Wildlife features, across a weekend where both are celebrating historic moments in their lives - what a weekend it has been for the two!