David Attenborough: his life in pictures

On Sunday the 8th May, Sir David Attenborough will turn 90 years old. Seen to have set a glowing example for his use of public service broadcasting, Attenborough has worked tirelessly to draw the fickle public gaze to what matters. He has harnessed the power of technology, drawing people of all ages closer to nature at a time when we have never been so divorced from it. To celebrate his long, illustrious and valuable career, The Gentleman’s Journal presents the defining photos of the eminent naturalist.

1933 – David (centre) with brothers Richard (right) and John (Photograph: BBC)

John, Richard and David in their youth (Photograph: Associated Press)

Attenborough pictured with a parrot at London Zoo (Photograph: BBC)

1958 – Prince Charles and Princess Anne meet Attenborough at Lime Grove studios (Photograph: BBC)

1963 – David with a frilled-neck lizard in Australia’s Northern Territory (Photograph: BBC)

Attenborough introduces his son to a coati-mundi from London Zoo (Photograph: Getty)

Sir David with an Armadillo at London Zoo (Photograph: BBC)

Attenborough leaning on film cans in 1962, when he was head of the Travel and Talks department of the BBC (Photograph: BBC)

David and Jane Attenborough on their wedding day (accompanied by Richard, right) (Photograph: EMPICS)

1965 – Attenborough pictured after being made the new head of BBC 2 (Photograph: BBC)

Attenborough meets tribesmen in New guinea while filming Zoo Quest (Photograph: BBC)

Attenborough and Michael Peacock, controller of the BBC, pose with soft toy versions of Custard and Hullabaloo, the kangaroo mascots used during the Launch of BBC 2 (Photograph: BBC)

1985 – Attenborough with his wife Jane (right) and daughter Susan after being knighted at Buckingham Palace (Photograph: Associated Press)

1986 – David Attenborough with HM Queen Elizabeth II during the recording of her Christmas message (Photograph: Press Association)

Attenborough experiences zero gravity aboard Nasa’s KC135 aircraft (Photograph: BBC)

Sir David at the 13th Annual International Emmy Awards (Photograph: Getty)

Sir David plays with mountain gorillas in Rwanda while filming Life on Earth (BBC)

Attenborough feeds an orangutan (Photograph: Associated Press)

Sir David eyes leaf-cutter ants during the filming of Micro Monsters 3D (BBC/Colossus)

A portrait taken by Nadav Kander for Radio times (Photograph: Radio Times)

Sir David has his eyes measured and matched for his waxwork at Madam Tussauds Wax Museum (Photograph: Associated Press)

Attenborough facing off with an iguana (Photograph: BBC)

Sir David with a hungry ring-tailed lemur (Photograph: BBC)

Sir David poses with picture of a spider named after him, the Prethopalpus Attenboroughi (Photograph: Tony Mcdonough)

Sir David pictured with a Great Mormon Butterfly on his nose at the launch of the Big Butterfly count at London Zoo (Photograph: Press Association)

A famous pair: the late Richard Attenborough shares a joke with brother David (Photograph: Rex features)

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