I don’t have any issue with David Attenborough, I just think British people sort of overestimate Attenborough’s global popularity, if that makes sense. Yes, he’s a great documentarian and environmental activist, but it’s a little bit crazy to treat him as a godlike-figure who “invented” any of this. Also, he’s 99 years old and they need to let this poor man retire! He can’t retire now though, because he’s supposedly mentoring Prince William. Instead of William looking for mentorship from his father – who has been an environmentalist for decades – they’re now trying to say that William, the global statesman, is David Attenborough’s “apprentice.” William sat down with Attenborough for a YouTube conversation:
On the eve of World Oceans Day, Prince William is stepping into the role of TV host — interviewing none other than beloved naturalist Sir David Attenborough in a new short film highlighting the beauty and fragility of the world’s oceans. The five-minute conversation, released ahead of Attenborough’s upcoming documentary Ocean, sees the two passionate conservationists delve into their shared fascination with the sea and their deep concern for its future.
“[The damage done] to the ocean floor is unspeakably awful,” Attenborough says in the clip. “Something must be done before we destroy this great treasure.”
But like William, 42, Attenborough remains optimistic about what can be achieved through greater knowledge of the seas and how to protect them. Some of that comes with the awareness raised by his film. “We have an entrée into people’s front rooms,” he says.
The veteran broadcaster, who turned 99 last month (and received birthday wishes from William), also shares lighthearted memories from his early days of underwater filming — including struggling to use an old-fashioned diving helmet — before turning to the urgent message of his new film.
Ocean with David Attenborough premieres June 7 on National Geographic and begins streaming June 8 on Hulu and Disney+, coinciding with World Oceans Day. The release of William and Attenborough’s conversation follows a new installment in the Prince of Wales’ Guardians docuseries on BBC Earth’s YouTube channel. The latest episode spotlights Captain José Luis Cesena Calderon, a former illegal fisherman turned conservationist who now protects Mexico’s Sea of Cortez from poachers targeting vulnerable species like parrotfish, lobster and octopus.
So… Attenborough’s documentary streams on NatGeo, Hulu and Disney. William’s Guardians series is a YouTube project with very low viewership. Maybe William needs this apprenticeship so he won’t give speeches which sound like they came from a seventh-grader’s book report.
‘The baton has been handed over and Prince William has become David Attenborough’s sorcerer’s apprentice.’
Former Royal correspondent Charles Rae discusses Prince William’s passion towards tackling environmental issues. pic.twitter.com/1hxZOcCPEO
— GB News (@GBNEWS) June 8, 2025
Photos courtesy of YouTube screenshots and William’s IG.
