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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
John Bett

Sir David Attenborough's links to Royal Family and close bond with King Charles

Sir David Attenborough is one of the most loved stars of the screen and for decades he's been educating the world about nature and wildlife.

But outside his career as an environmentalist, Sir David has fostered a close relationship with the Royal Family and is close friends with King Charles.

He first became friends with the late Queen Elizabeth II, as the pair were born just weeks apart and they grew close over the years - sharing "precious laughter" together on many occasions.

Now, Sir David has turned 97-years-old, and we've taken a look inside his unique friendship with the new monarch - as the lauded presenter spoke out to defend him in the run-up to the coronation.

Sir David Attenborough is well loved by the nation (PA)

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Sir David has spent much of his life bringing wildlife into our living rooms with his outstanding, award-winning documentaries - spreading the message of conservation and the need to reverse humankind's impact on the world.

Attenborough made his first television appearance just a year after the Queen's coronation, taking to the small screen in 1954 with the BBC documentary Zoo Quest.

And now he's witnessed the crowning of a new monarch, King Charles III, and he spoke out backing his friend, saying he was mocked about his conservation passion.

Sir David, appeared on a special BBC One programme alongside Kirsty Young to celebrate the Monarch just hours before he was officially crowned King Charles III, alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.

During the episode, the naturalist said the King "very clearly" understood the importance of the natural world "right from being a small child".

He told Kirsty: "When he became prominent and an adult, he took a strong line at a time when nature conservation was regarded as being slightly specialist.

The pair have known each other for years (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

"But he realised what it was about and he was mocked actually because he said 'Trees are so important I feel like talking to trees'.

"But in fact, he was absolutely right and the world has come to see the world as he saw it."

Sir David added: "The fact is 20 or 30 years ago, it really was sort of oddball to a lot of people.

"But now everybody realises that the future of humanity is dependent upon a healthy natural world.

"The way ahead demands that leaders of the state should actually give their full backing and I'm quite sure that as King he will lead this country in a very important way."

Reflecting on his first meeting with the then Prince Charles, who was just nine, during a visit to the BBC studios, Sir David explained: "I had just come back from New Guinea with a load of animals which were going to the London Zoo.

Sir David spoke out to defend King Charles (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

"But I had a pet cockatoo and I was asked to bring it to the studios, which I did.

"Dear little Cocky is sitting on his (Prince Charles's) hand but in fact, they have a very powerful beak and a very powerful bite and although I was fairly confident about Cocky, he could actually have removed his little finger but all was well and it was a very happy occasion."

The broadcaster has a long-standing love for the Monarchy, and he first met Queen Elizabeth in 1958 while he was working at the BBC as controller.

However, the beloved documentary maker's relationship with the monarchy hasn't always been cosy.

In his role as BBC controller, Attenborough oversaw everything that was aired. In 1969, despite Prince Philip agreeing to open up Buckingham Palace's doors to a filming crew, Attenborough was uneasy about it being broadcast.

According to the author Ingrid Seward, he said: "You're killing the monarchy, you know, with this film you're making. The whole institution depends on ­mystique and the tribal chief in his hut.

Sir David has now celebrated his 97th birthday (Getty Images)

"If any member of the tribe ever sees inside the hut, then the whole system of the tribal chiefdom is damaged and the tribe eventually disintegrates."

For services to television, Attenborough was knighted in 1985 and between 1986 to 1991, the environmentalist worked closely with the Queen to produce her Christmas addresses to the nation.

In more recent years, as green-causes have become more prominent in the monarchy's work, the Queen awarded Sir David with the Order of Merit - a personal gift of the monarch for exceptional distinction in the arts and sciences. Attenborough now collaborates with the Queen's grandchildren Prince Harry and in particular Prince William's The Earthshot Prize.

The royal family's relationship with the double-knighted broadcaster stretches far beyond recognising his incredible work.

Breaking his silence at the time of her passing, Sir David released a statement where he remembered The Queen's "most precious laugh" adding that "the whole nation is bereaved".

The veteran presenter said: "If there was a technical hitch, she wanted to know what it was, and if it had a funny side, she was quick to see the joke.

"Yet not for one second could you forget that you were in the presence of someone who had willingly accepted enormous responsibility and dedicated her life to serving the nation – that you were, in short, in the presence of royalty."

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