Queen Elizabeth and Sir David Attenborough: A Royal Friendship
About this episode
This episode explores the remarkable parallel lives of Queen Elizabeth II and Sir David Attenborough, highlighting their influence on Britain and the world.
What do Queen Elizabeth II and Sir David Attenborough have in common? More than you might imagine. In this third episode, celebrating the Centenary of Queen Elizabeth, we explore the remarkable parallel lives of two icons born just weeks apart in 1926 — figures who would go on to shape not just Britain, but the very way we see the world. One inherited a throne; the other helped invent television as we know it. So, it’s a big happy centenary birthday to Sir David, who’s still going strong, and a remembrance of how those 100 years shaped and were shaped by two extraordinary people. From wartime broadcasts to the birth of colour TV, from Buckingham Palace to the farthest corners of the natural world, their stories intertwine in surprising ways. Along the journey, we uncover Attenborough’s unlikely rise (his family never owned a TV set), his clashes with royal thinking, and his quiet influence behind the scenes — including his role in shaping how the monarchy presented itself on screen. A witty, insightful look at two national treasures. Hosts: Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams Series Producer: Ben Devlin Production Manager: Vittoria Cecchini Executive Producer: Bella Soames…
More episodes of Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things
- Queen Elizabeth and Sir David Attenborough: Global Pioneers
- Elizabeth II: The Inside Story (Part 2)
- Elizabeth II: The Inside Story (Part 1)
- Elizabeth I: Love & Death (Part 3)
- Elizabeth I: Warrior (Part 2)
- Elizabeth I: Survivor (Part 1)
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