Arise (again) Sir David Attenborough, knighted for the second time

Sir David Attenborough was on Wednesday knighted for a second time as he received a prestigious honour traditionally reserved for diplomats.

The 96-year-old broadcaster was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George by the Prince of Wales.

Sir David, who has long enjoyed a close relationship with members of the Royal family, received the honour for services to television broadcasting and to conservation.

The investiture ceremony took place at Windsor Castle, 37 years after the Planet Earth host was first knighted by the Queen.

The naturalist looked delighted with his award but declined to comment afterwards.

Sir David joins a select list of diplomats and governor generals to receive the honour.

He is the only current Knight Grand Cross of the Order who does not have a diplomatic background.

Last weekend, a section of the Platinum Party at the Palace dedicated to environmental issues was opened with words from Sir David, as images of the natural world were projected onto Buckingham Palace.

The broadcaster is a member of the Duke of Cambridge’s Earthshot Prize Council and helped launch the awards in 2020.

Two years earlier, he recorded a documentary called The Queen’s Green Planet in which he strolled through the gardens of Buckingham Palace with the monarch as they discussed the environment.

The broadcaster was joined at Windsor Castle by other award recipients including Gary Lightbody, the lead singer of rock band Snow Patrol, who was made an OBE for services to music and to charity in Northern Ireland.

Mr Lightbody said afterwards: “It went really well, Prince Charles, His Royal Highness, was very kind and asked me about my music and my writing.”

Actor Toby Jones collected an OBE for services to drama, Sir Jeremy Fleming, the director of GCHQ, was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George for services to national security, and athlete Laura Sugar, who won a paracanoe gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, received an MBE.

'Fan girl moment'

Ms Sugar said of being alongside Sir David: “It was pretty special to see him – he is an absolute icon – and a bit of a fan girl moment. I can say I was within a few feet of him for a good few minutes.

“I had no idea he was going to be here today so that was extra special.”

Founded in 1818, the Order of St Michael and St George is usually reserved for men and women of high office or those who render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country.

Past recipients have included Sir Tim Barrow, who served as the UK’s permanent representative to the EU and Sir Iain Macleod, the former legal adviser to the foreign office.