Sir David Attenborough has made a rare public appearance in central London just days before celebrating his 100th birthday.

The beloved broadcaster and natural historian, who turns 100 on Friday, May 8, was seen out with his daughter Susan. The pair walked arm in arm through the capital, with Sir David appearing cheerful, composed and impressively mobile.

Although he has rarely been seen in public in recent years, Sir David has remained active in his work. This year alone, he has been involved in several projects, including Wild London, A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough, and the career retrospective Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure.

He is also set to appear in David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, released to mark his milestone birthday, as well as Our Story with David Attenborough, an immersive experience at London’s Natural History Museum.

During the outing, Sir David was seen travelling by car, with Susan behind the wheel. Famously, he has never driven, never held a driving licence and has never owned a car.

In recent years, Sir David has spoken movingly about ageing and the future of the planet. In Ocean: With David Attenborough, he reflected: “When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity. Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true.”

He added: “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.”

Sir David has also credited changes to his lifestyle for his longevity, saying he has cut down on red meat and become “much more vegetarian” than he ever expected.