David Attenborough believes Charles will give conservation ‘full backing’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir David Attenborough said the future of humanity depends on state leaders giving their “full backing” to environmental issues which he believes the King will do. Sir David said Charles “very clearly” understood the relationship and importance of the natural world “right from being a small child”. “The way ahead demands that leaders of the state should actually give their full backing and I’m quite sure that as King he will lead this country in a very important way.” Sir David said Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, was “very vigorous in ordering conservation”, adding: “I’m quite sure King Charles will be the same.” He also spoke about first meeting the then-Prince Charles when he visited the BBC studios at the age of nine and held his pet cockatoo named Cocky. “But all was well and it was a very happy occasion.” Speaking about the coronation on Saturday, Sir David said he was looking forward to the “whole panoply of the military, the parade, and, of course, the ceremony itself” which he said will be “deeply moving”.