The Royal Family recently had the chance to meet and quiz legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough, a longtime friend of the Firm. The Cambridge tots had the chance to interview the legendary broadcaster, as heir to the throne Prince George and his siblings asked insightful questions about nature. Sir David’s story with the royals started more than 60 years ago, in the same career but with a different youthful heir.
David Attenborough began his television broadcasting career with BBC show Zoo Quest in 1954.
He presented the nature documentary from London Zoo until the early 1960s.
Towards the end of his time with the show, he attracted the attention of the Royal Family – particularly the young royals Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
He first met the Royal Family through them in 1958, when the nine and eight-year-olds toured the BBC Television Studios at Lime Grove.
READ MORE: Prince George’s surprise rivalry with Malta over Attenborough gift
The prince said: “I used to love, and I still do, but when I was a young boy, used to love turning on the television and watching David’s programmes and really feeling like I was back out in Africa or I was learning about something magical and almost out of this planet.
“There is something very calming and sort of warm about his programmes.
“There is something very reassuring about seeing David Attenborough on BBC One doing his documentaries.
He added: “It is part of the national psyche now.”
The presenter’s relationship with the royals recently garnered controversy, however, after he gave Prince George a shark tooth.
Sir David found the relic, which came from an extinct megalodon, in the 1960s in Malta.
On finding out he had it, the Maltese government requested its return, sparking a brief diplomatic row.
However, they U-turned and allowed the young prince to keep the fossil.
