Prince George may need to give giant shark tooth David Attenborough gave him back to Malta

A giant shark tooth given to Prince George by Sir David Attenborough may be reclaimed by Malta where it was originally found.

Sir David presented the young royal the gift last week during a visit to Kensington Palace where he watched his latest documentary with George’s father, the Duke of Cambridge.

George was pictured holding the fossilised tooth from an extinct Carcharocles megalodon, which is one of the most feared predators to have swum the seas.

However, Malta's culture minister has since suggested he wants the tooth to be returned.

Jose Herrera, speaking to the Times of Malta newspaper, said: "There are some artefacts that are important to Maltese natural heritage and which ended up abroad and deserve to be retrieved.

"We rightly give a lot of attention to historical and artistic artefacts. However, it is not always the case with our natural history. I am determined to direct a change in this attitude."

The giant shark tooth was found by veteran broadcaster Sir David during a family holiday to Malta in the 1960s.

According to The Times, fossils such as the shark tooth fall under the definition of cultural heritage as a “moveable or immovable object of geological importance”.

Thus, "under the provisions of the Cultural Heritage Act 2002, their removal or excavation is (now) forbidden."