David Beckham celebrates ‘national treasure’ David Attenborough on his 100th birthday

David Beckham has called David Attenborough a ‘national treasure’ as he joined a host of other famous names in wishing the broadcaster a happy 100th birthday.

The environmentalist has said he is ‘completely overwhelmed’ by the messages he had received ahead of his big day, which will include a concert on Friday evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Posting on Instagram, David captioned three images showing the BBC star with gorillas and an iguana by saying: ‘Happy 100th Birthday to our National Treasure.’
Meanwhile, the King and Queen wished him a very happy birthday, adding: ‘Enjoy your special celebration this evening!’
In a video, Prince William, who previously worked with Sir David on the environmental award the Earthshot Prize, said: ‘Everything you do continues to inspire me.

Have a very happy day.’

The clip, posted on Earthshot prize’s account, also featured conservationist Robert Irwin, 22, the son of the late wildlife educator Steve, who said: ‘Happy 100th birthday Sir David Attenborough.

‘Thank you so much for inspiring me and generations to have a deeper understanding and connection to what’s more important: our beautiful natural world.’
The Duke of Sussex also wished the natural historian well, as he wrote: ‘His most significant contribution has been the systematic dismantling of the notion that climate issues are happening somewhere else.

Fancy learning more about David Attenborough?

‘Young people continue to listen to him not just for the spectacle of nature, but for a sense of continuity in an unstable world.’
Actor Sir Ian McKellen added that Sir David ‘sums up what was best about the BBC’ with ‘serious programmes made for a popular audience’.

‘His ability to communicate his own enthusiasms are very precious and he’s brought such joy to so many people,’ he said.

‘And I think, along with a lot of people, my favourite television programmes are probably natural history.’
Sir Paul McCartney joined in with wishing Sir David a happy birthday.

Posting a video on Instagram, the musical legend said: ‘The man is a legend.

I love him, we all love him.

‘His programmes are incredible.

The team he puts around him is incredible.

So, happy birthday David.

You are a star.’
The former Beatles singer then sung Happy Birthday to the broadcasting icon, before giggling to himself as the video ended.

Humans aren’t the only ones who have been marking the big day.

Jonathan the Tortoise, who is almost twice Sir David’s age at 194 years old, called for a ‘shell-ebration’.

The Governor’s Office for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan, posted a picture of the oldest living land animal on some grass, next to a piece of paper which commemorated Sir David’s birthday.

They wrote: ‘Dear David Attenborough, congratulations on reaching your 100th lap around the sun, young man!

Thank you for sharing the wonders of our world with such care and curiosity.

Here’s to many more years, slow and steady wins the race!

With admiration, Jonathan the Tortoise.’
The toy brick company, Lego, has also marked the day.

It posted a picture on socials showing a classic lego kit with an updated age bracket of ‘4-100+’ in honour of Sir David, with a caption that read: ‘There’s no age limit for those who never stop playing.’
Conservation organisation @wwf_uk commented: ‘This has made my day.

Thank you.’
Responding to his birthday messages, Sir David said: ‘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.’
Beginning his TV career presenting Zoo Quest in 1954, Sir David went on to host a series of phenomenal nature documentaries such as Planet Earth to The Blue Planet.

Earlier this week, the beloved naturalist said he had hoped to celebrate his centenary ‘quietly’, but conceded that the Great British public had had ‘other ideas’.

The Royal Albert Hall celebration, which will be broadcast tonight on BBC One, is just one of many events to mark his birthday.

The Natural History Museum’s exhibition, presented by Sir David, will also be transformed into a free five-minute show in central London.

On top of this, Our Story With David Attenborough will be adapted to be shown at Outernet London on Tottenham Court Road from Sir David’s birthday on May 8.

People will be able to see the veteran BBC nature presenter take viewers through the history of people and the Earth, before presenting a vision of London’s future.

David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth airs tonight at 8.30pm on BBC One.
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