Prince Harry praises Sir David Attenborough as a 'secular saint'

Prince Harry has hailed Sir David Attenborough as a "secular saint".

The Duke of Sussex, 41, celebrated the veteran broadcaster's 100th birthday on Friday (08.05.26) by writing an essay for Time magazine in which he praised the TV star for his "humanity" and for inspiring others to help protect the natural world.

Harry wrote: "For almost anyone who grew up in the United Kingdom, Sir David Attenborough is more than a broadcaster; he is a secular saint.

"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."

The royal went on to insist Attenborough's passion for nature has thrown the spotlight on environmental issues and encouraged countless others to do their bit to help.

He wrote: "He has earned the world’s trust by simply showing us that our environment is worth appreciating. He didn’t demand our attention, but drew us in with the wonder of nature all the same ...

"Attenborough’s measured demeanor and lack of any conceivable agenda mean that the alarm bells he sounds signify all the more urgency. When a man who has quite literally seen it all begins to describe the loss of the planet's stability, he isn't being provocative.

"He is reporting from the front lines of a planet he has known longer, and more intimately, than almost anyone alive."

Harry went on to applaud Attenborough's use to social media to reach younger generations declaring he is bestowing humanity with "both a gift and a responsibility" to protect the planet.

Harry's elder brother William, Prince of Wales is also a big fan of Attenborough's work and he released a special message to mark the broadcaster's 99th birthday last year following the release of his film Ocean with David Attenborough.

In his 2025 statement, the heir to the throne wrote: "He has dedicated his life to ensuring we understand the realities of what mankind is doing to the planet.

"However hard hitting his message is, Sir David always leaves us with a sense of hope and optimism that all is not lost and this film is no different. We must act together, with urgency, to restore our oceans."