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The Independent UK

National

Georgia Bates

Sir David Attenborough at 100: 15 photos you may have never seen before

David Attenborough Jane Barlow Richard Attenborough London Susan Clare Balding Georgie JMW Turner Jonathan Yeo Right (Person)

Sir David Attenborough, the esteemed broadcaster, naturalist, and national treasure, celebrates his 100th birthday on May 8.

To mark this milestone, we present a selection of photographs you might not have seen before.

1950

Sir David is pictured here on his wedding day 76 years ago. He married his wife Jane at St Anne’s Church on Kew Green. She died in 2004.

Also pictured is his older brother Richard, the film actor and director, and member of the House of Lords, who died in 2014.

David Attenborough, younger brother of the film actor Richard Attenborough, married Miss Jane Oriel today at St. Anne's Church, Kew Green. (PA)

1955

Sir David visited British Guiana, now the independent country of Guyana, for one of his first programmes for the BBC – Zoo Quest. In this image, he is pictured with his son Robert and a coatimundi brought back from the country.

David Attenborough holding his son Robert whilst looking at an animal called a coati-mundi, brought home from the combined London Zoo - BBC expedition to British Guyana. (PA)

1957

Three year old Susan and her father David Attenborough cover their ears as sulphur-crested cockatoo Georgie lets out a piercing shriek.

Georgie has been brought home to Richmond from New Guinea, which David Attenborough visited for his 'Zoo Quest' series.

1958

A young Prince Charles and his sister Princess Anne meet Sir David and Cocky, the cockatoo brought back from his Zoo Quest expedition, at the BBC Television Studios in London.

Prince Charles with his sister Princess Anne meeting David Attenborough and Cocky, the cockatoo brought back from his last Zoo Quest expedition. (PA)

1965

Sir David is pictured at London’s BBC Television Centre while he was controller of BBC Two. In the role, he oversaw the advent of colour television.

David Attenborough, at the BBC Television Centre, White City, London. (PA)

1985

Sir David is shown with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan after he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.

Sir David Attenborough who was knighted by the Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace, London, with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan. (PA)

1992

In 1992 a waxwork was unveiled of the naturalist at Madame Tussaud’s. His wax portrait has been updated and replaced since.

Sir David Attenborough unveiling his wax portrait figure in the Garden Party at Madame Tussaud's in London. (PA)

2006

Sir David and Richard Attenborough were made distinguished honorary fellows of the University of Leicester during a ceremony at De Montfart Hall in 2006. The brothers grew up in the East Midlands city.

Sir David (left) and Lord Richard Attenborough at Leicester University, where they spent their childhoods, after receiving a top academic honour at De Montfart Hall. (PA)

2008

The late Queen smiles as Sir David gives a Christmas Lecture at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in London.

Queen Elizabeth II smiling as Sir David Attenborough gives a segment of a Christmas Lecture at the Royal Institution of Great Britain. (PA)

2012

Sir David smiles with a south-east Asian Great Mormon Butterfly on his nose after he launched the Big Butterfly count at London Zoo in Regent’s Park.

Sir David Attenborough with a south east Asian Great Mormon Butterfly on his nose. (PA)

2013

Sir David talks to the Princess of Wales, who was then Duchess of Cambridge, prior to the screening of David Attenborough’s Natural History Museum Alive 3D, at the Natural History Museum, in central London.

The Princess of Wales and Sir David Attenborough, during the naming ceremony of the polar research ship, named after Sir David (PA)

2020

The naturalist looks through a telescope in JMW Turner’s bedroom during the opening of the Turner And The Thames exhibition at Turner’s House in Twickenham, south-west London.

Later that year, Sir David was pictured sitting beside the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the launch of the Cop26 UN Climate Summit.

Sir David Attenborough looks through a telescope in JMW Turner's bedroom. (PA)

2021

The naturalist was pictured wearing a mask as he attended the premiere of the nature documentary Green Planet at a cinema in Glasgow during the Covid pandemic.

Sir David Attenborough attends the premiere of Green Planet. (Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

2023

Sir David Attenborough with Clare Balding (rear right) planting a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London.