King Charles III has led birthday tributes to Sir David Attenborough, sending "warmest congratulations" to the broadcaster as he celebrated his 100th birthday.
In a message delivered at a concert in his honour at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the monarch looked back on a friendship spanning more than 60 years.
The pair first met in 1958 and have "crossed paths many times since," he said in a handwritten card shown to the audience.
King Charles praised Sir David for revealing "the beauty and wonders of nature to audiences around the world in new and marvellous ways."
He added that the naturalist shares his own determination to point out the urgent need to protect the planet for future generations.
The card’s journey to Sir David was staged as part of the concert, with animals shown carrying the letter across land, sea and air.
An eagle, fox, red squirrel and otter featured in the sequence, which saw the fallen tree blocking its path cleared by the creatures so the dispatch could reach the broadcaster.
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The King and Queen said they were "delighted" he would be celebrating the milestone and wished him a "very happy birthday" on behalf of the whole country.
The royal couple also posted a carousel of photographs of Sir David on the official Royal Family Instagram account with the caption: "Wishing Sir David Attenborough a very happy 100th birthday. Enjoy your special celebration this evening!"
The Prince of Wales spoke of his "profound" friendship with Sir David, saying his children had grown up with the broadcaster’s "incredible storytelling."
He described Sir David as a "guiding light" in efforts to protect the natural world, adding: "For decades, your voice has been a constant in our lives, guiding us through rainforests and oceans, over mountains and into the very fabric of life."
The Royal Albert Hall audience joined in singing happy birthday at the close of the event.
Tributes also poured in from beyond the royal family as Sir David Beckham also called him a "National Treasure" in an Instagram post, while Leonardo DiCaprio described him as "one of the most enduring champions of our shared planet."
Celebrations for Sir David’s birthday extended beyond the concert, with Piccadilly Lights in central London displaying a birthday message.
The naturalist said he had been "completely overwhelmed" by the goodwill and thanked well-wishers "most sincerely."
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