NEED TO KNOW
- World-renowned wildlife legend and naturalist Sir David Attenborough celebrated his milestone birthday on May 8.
- A star-studded live BBC event will be broadcast on his birthday from London’s Royal Albert Hall, honouring his ground-breaking career, as well as three special programs.
- He has formed many friendships over the years, notably with the British royal family, particularly King Charles, through their shared environmental interests.
In his century on Earth, Sir David Attenborough has witnessed immense change.
The natural historian and broadcaster, who turned 100 on May 8, continues to champion the protection of our planet, and shows no signs of stopping his hard work.
On his 100th birthday, David admitted he was “completely overwhelmed” by all the birthday messages he had received as he marked the incredible milestone.
“I had rather thought that I would celebrate my 100th birthday quietly, but it seems that many of you have had other ideas,” he said.
“I have been completely overwhelmed by birthday greetings, from pre-school groups to care home residents, and countless individuals and families of all ages.
“I simply can’t reply to each of you separately, but I’d like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages, and wish those of you who have planned your own local events: Have a very happy day.”
David’s 100th birthday will be publicly celebrated with a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Scroll on for everything you need to know about the occasion.
Is David Attenborough 100 today?
Yes! David Attenborough turned 100 on May 8, 2026.
Ahead of his birthday, David issued a poignant message doubling down on his desire to champion the environment.
“I know I’m nearing the end of my life, but there’s still more to be done,” says David, who has highlighted the Earth’s wonders across countless TV programs – most notably his Life on Earth and The Blue Planet series – as well as numerous documentaries and books.
“The natural world is the most precious thing we have, and we need to defend it,” he added.
Prince Harry led those paying tribute to David on his 100th birthday, writing an extra special message for the broadcaster.
“Sir David Attenborough is more than a broadcaster; he is a secular saint,” Harry wrote in Time Magazine.
“He is an institutional pillar as essential to the national fabric as a cup of tea.
“His almost-whispers have been the soft soundtrack of the home—a shared experience that turned the weekend nature documentary into a national ritual.”
Who are David Attenborough’s family members?
David Attenborough’s brother, Richard, was a famous actor, acclaimed for starring in Jurassic Park and Miracle on 34th Street.
Richard died on August 29, 2023, aged 90, following a long period of ill health, triggered by a stroke in 2008.
David also has two children, Robert and Susan, whom he shared with his late wife, Jane Elizabeth Ebsworth Oriel.
With little known about their early romance, David and Jane first met in the 1940s and got married at St Anne’s Church on Kew Green in 1950.
David and Jane were deeply in love and happily married for many decades, with his wife being his number one supporter in his career.
In 1997, Jane suffered a brain haemorrhage while David was in New Zealand filming The Life of the Birds.
David flew back to say his final goodbyes, and she died at the age of 70.
What did David Attenborough do in his career?
David’s career began at the BBC in 1952, in the natural history department.
The broadcast corporation will mark its milestone centenary with a bumper week of special content in the UK, including three brand-new programs and a live celebration event at the Royal Albert Hall.
David also has a new series, Secret Garden, which will air in Australia later this year.
It shines a light on the rich biodiversity within Britain’s back gardens, and encourages people to help save threatened species.
Over the years, David has travelled the globe, but Australia – and in particular North Queensland – holds a special place in his heart.
“For a naturalist, it has everything,” he’s said. “It has an amazing rainforest, and down on the coast it has the Great Barrier Reef, so that’s the place for me.”
Across his career, he has fronted more than 100 documentaries and series, leaving a lasting impact and legacy on the environmental sector.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1985 for his services to broadcasting, and later received a second, higher honour from King Charles in 2022.
David shares a close, decades-long bond with the Royal Family, and its expected that King Charles and Prince William will attend his 100th birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall.
To revisit David’s best moments, see all his top documentaries here.
