Why Sir David Attenborough is the male equivalent of The Queen… from their selfless duty to the public to their monumental impact
Sir David and The Queen are bith from the World War II generation that saw working was hard not a choice, but a way of life
AT 91, even the hardiest souls tend to enjoy their twilight years in relative peace, retiring from work and resting up.
But for nature documentary legend Sir David Attenborough, the mere thought of slowing down is unthinkable.
He was born in 1926 and, incredibly, is enjoying one of the most commercially successful periods of a glittering career that spans seven decades.
Following the blockbuster success of Planet Earth II last year, the Blue Planet sequel ratings are so huge that he torpedoed The X Factor on Sunday night with double Simon Cowell’s audience.
That’s not to mention the millions he is making the BBC from sales of the undersea epic around the world.
But it is not money, fame or success that is at the heart of his desire to continue working.
It is just what he was born to do. He feels a duty to inform and entertain the public about issues to do with our natural world, loves doing just that and intends to keep going for at least another decade.
Looking at Sir David’s monumental impact and the almost universal love from the British public, it is clear to me that only one other public figure is held in the same esteem — the Queen.
She has reigned for 65 years, the exact number of years Sir David has been broadcasting nature shows on TV. And as you can see on these pages, that is not the only similarity between these two great Britons.
I am already in mourning for the day — hopefully many years away — when we lose this pair who are so integral to the very fabric of British life.
They are the polar opposite to the snowflake generation of today, who are so afraid of hard work and so desperate for constant praise.
In fact, I would love many of the prissy, negative, fame-hungry generation of celebrities to learn a thing or two from Sir David.
Most importantly, there is nothing worse, nothing more destructive, than being famous for being famous.
Yes, you’ll have your 15 minutes. You’ll make a bob or two (and usually spend it all within a year).
But what you will not perhaps secure is an enduring, fulfilling career. Sir David’s genuine passion for what he does and ability behind the scenes is why his success in front of the camera has continued.
For Sir David and the Queen, it’s all about work ethic.
This is the generation that lived through World War Two, saw friends and relatives perish then had to cope with a further decade of rationing.
Working hard was not a choice, it was a way of life — and also something that was celebrated. Last year the pair came together for a reception at Buckingham Palace.
After sharing a joke, Sir David told the Queen during his speech: “And, in your 90th year Your Majesty, we are fortunate that you are still thinking about the future and how to make this a better world.”
We are fortunate he is doing the same.
