David Attenborough at 100 years old: A life in pictures
Perhaps the world's most recognizable nature documentary host, the twice-knighted naturalist turns 100 and remains as enthusiastic about his favorite subject as ever.
Work-life imbalance
In 2017, David Attenborough told documentary maker Louis Theroux that his greatest regret about his career was that he'd missed out on seeing his two children — Robert and Susan — grow up due to his extensive traveling. In this 1957 picture, he is seen with his then 3-year-old daughter, Susan. Both are covering their ears as a sulphur crested cockatoo, Georgie, shrieks.
Chums with the royals
Attenborough also had good relations with the British royal family. The young Prince Charles and Princess Anne are seen here during an unofficial visit to the BBC television studios in 1958. This included a trip backstage where they met Attenborough and Cocky the cockatoo.
'Zoo Quest': Attenborough's first major series
Broadcast between 1954 and 1963, the BBC's "Zoo Quest" show saw Attenborough traveling with staff from the London Zoo to tropical countries to source animals for the zoo's collection — a practice that was not frowned upon back then as it is today. Here he is seen (left) with London Zoo staff en route to Africa to search for a rare wild bird called the picathartes.
Knighted the first time
He became Sir David Attenborough after being knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1985. Here he is seen after the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London, with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan. Twenty years later, the Queen also bestowed Attenborough with the Order of Merit, an award recognizing "exceptional achievements in the advancement of arts, learning, literature and science."
The illustrious Attenborough brothers
His older brother was famed English actor and filmmaker, Lord Richard Attenborough (pictured right) who among others starred in two blockbuster "Jurassic Park" films. Here both are seen laughing at the University of Leicester, United Kingdom in July 2006, where they were each awarded the title of "Distinguished Honorary Fellow."
BAFTAs in black and white
Often referred to as Britain's "national treasure" — a term he doesn't like — Attenborough has the distinction of being the only person to have won the UK's BAFTA awards for television programs in black and white, color, high-definition, 3D and 4K. Here he is seen holding a BAFTA in 2018 at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Named in his honor
Besides having over 40 flora and fauna species named after him, a polar research ship also bears his name. Originally named Boaty McBoatface following an online vote, the UK's Natural Environment Research Council eventually settled on his name instead. Here the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge join Attenborough at the naming ceremony at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside in 2019.
That unmistakable voice
In 2019, Attenborough lent his patented "semi-whisper" narrating style to The Wildlife Trusts' trailer that brought to life the beloved children's story, "The Wind in the Willows." Featuring the four main protagonists, Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad, it depicted them facing 21st-century threats to their natural homes, showing how the UK has become one of the world's most nature-depleted countries.
Earthshot Prize: rewarding sustainable solutions
Prince William and Attenborough launched the Earthshot Prize in 2020 to incentivize change and help repair our planet. The name and concept were inspired by the US' successful "Moonshot" program in 1961. Five prizes of 1 million British pounds will be awarded every year until 2030 for sustainable solutions to current problems, amounting in total to £50 million (€57 million, $68 million).
'We are facing a man-made disaster on a global scale'
Attenborough's "Climate Change — The Facts" BBC documentary (2019), which details the scientific evidence, impacts and potential solutions to global climate change, is shown promoted at an Extinction Rebellion camp. While Attenborough shares the sense of urgency of the climate change activist group, he has however criticized their disruptive, illegal tactics that risk "alienating" the public.
Netflix's first nature documentary
Focusing on how climate change impacts all living creatures, "Our Planet" was streaming giant Netflix's first nature documentary narrated by Attenborough. Released in April 2019, Netflix had initially estimated that 25 million households would watch the series during its first month of release. It was later reported that 100 million households had tuned in as of March 2021.
Twice knighted for championing nature
He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by Prince, now King, Charles during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in June 2022. The knighthood was awarded to Attenborough for "his services to television broadcasting and conservation." In May 2022, his five-part series titled "Prehistoric Planet" debuted on Apple TV.
Glowing reviews for the UK's 'national treasure'
The reviews of Netflix's April 2026 documentary "A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough" are in and they are overwhelmingly positive. The documentary sees the naturalist recalling his first encounter with a baby gorilla called Pablo (pictured here) in Rwanda 50 years ago, and how the silverback's descendants are doing today. "I will never forget him," said the 100-year-old Attenborough.