Beloved conservationist David Attenborough celebrated his milestone 100th birthday on Friday, May 8. Hollywood stars and the British royal family all paid tribute to the English broadcaster.
David Attenborough Turns 100
Attenborough, whose career began in the 1950s as the host of “Zoo Quest,” reached the greatest milestone of his life: Turning 100.
For more than seven decades, Attenborough has graced television screens as he brought knowledge of the natural world to viewers across the globe.
In honor of his 100th birthday, A-list Hollywood stars, as well as the British royal family, shared touching messages to the living legend.
“Wishing Sir David Attenborough a very happy 100th birthday. Enjoy your special celebration this evening! 🎈🦍🐆🦅🌿” the official Royal family Instagram page shared while promoting BBC One’s “David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth.”
Prince William recorded a video message shared by Earthshot Prize.
“Happy 100th David,” he said. “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.”
In addition to the royals, Attenborough was honored by stars such as Robert Irwin and Leonardo DiCaprio.
“Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough,” the “Dancing With the Stars” champ said in the same Earthshot Prize video. “Thank you so much for inspiring me and generations to have a deeper understanding and connection to what’s most important — our beautiful, natural world.”
The “Titanic” actor shared a lengthy tribute alongside a photo of the animal lover.
“Happy 100th birthday to Sir David Attenborough — a storyteller, naturalist, and one of the most enduring champions of our shared planet,” DiCaprio began. “For as long as I can remember, Sir David has opened windows into the natural world, bringing moments of wonder, beauty, and discovery into homes across the globe and inspiring generations to fall in love with life on Earth. Through his voice, many of us first came to witness the astonishing richness of biodiversity — and to understand both its fragility and its resilience.”
He continued, “At 100 years old, his legacy is extraordinary. He has reshaped global awareness of conservation and reminded us, time and again, that protecting nature is not optional — it is fundamental to our future. His words continue to guide and challenge us.”
He went on to quote the Emmy Award winner, writing, “To restore stability to our planet, therefore, we must restore its biodiversity, the very thing we have removed. It is the only way out of this crisis that we ourselves have created. We must rewild the world!”
David Attenborough’s 100 Years
In honor of his 100 years on planet Earth, BBC is offering viewers a chance to revisit Attenborough’s most memorable moments.
“I’ve been lucky enough to live through the golden age of natural history filmmaking. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
Attenborough was born in 1926. According to NPR, he had an affinity for collecting fossils as a child growing up outside of London. After studying zoology at Cambridge, he served in the British Navy before joining BBC.
Fans shared their love for the “Frozen Planet” star in the comments section of BBC’s post.
“What a privilege to walk this planet at the same time as Sir David Attenborough! Happy birthday, Sir,” one follower wrote.
“Happy 100th birthday to the most inspiring person on Earth, sir David Attenborough! 🥂🎉💐🎂❤️” another commented.
In a message shared by BBC, Attenborough thanked fans for their love and support.
“I simply can’t reply to each of you separately, but I’d like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages,” he said.
