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David Attenborough is so impressive he has more letters after his name than in it

Home> Entertainment

Updated 20:42 29 Mar 2023 GMT+1Published 20:40 29 Mar 2023 GMT+1

David Attenborough is so impressive he has more letters after his name than in it

The broadcaster has achieved a hell of a lot in his 96 years

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

It's definitely no a secret that David Attenborough has achieved a lot in his long lifetime, but if for some reason you need some convincing, you can just take a look at the amount of letters he has after his name.

Presenter, animal lover, historian, icon. David Attenborough is a British institution, and at 96 years old, it's safe to say he's known by pretty much every single person in this country.

He studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge before joining the BBC in 1952, and in the decades that have followed he's travelled the world, taught us about the importance of conserving our planet, and probably forgotten more about animals than the rest of us could ever hope to know.

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Needless to say, his work hasn't gone unrecognised.

You probably already know that Attenborough is a 'Sir'; a title given to him when he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1985, but his awards and achievements certainly don't stop there.

Attenborough has been recognised for his service to the country.
Alistair Heap / Alamy Stock Photo

In fact, as the Twitter account No Context Brits pointed out this week, the broadcaster actually has more letters after his name than he does in it.

David Attenborough - that's 17 letters. Following those, we have 36 more - specifically OM, GSMG, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FSA, FRSA, FZS, FRSGS and FRSB.

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They all come in recognition of the various things he has achieved and been recognised for throughout his life, but I'll break them down for you:]

OM - Order of Merit - described by the Royal Family as a 'very special distinction'; one that is given to those who have given exceptional service towards the advancement of the Arts, Learning, Literature, and Science, or 'such other exceptional service'. Given how much we've all learned from Attenborough, it's safe to say he's a worthy recipient.

Attenborough has achieved a lot in his 96 years.
Twitter/@NoContextBrits

GSMG - Order of St Michael and St George - granted in recognition of service in a foreign country, or in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.

CH - Order of the Companions of Honour - awarded to the worthy folk who have made a 'major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time'. According to the website for the Royal Family, there can only be 65 members at once, with current members including Dame Maggie Smith and Lord Coe, so Attenborough is in good company.

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CVO - Royal Victorian Order - there's no limit to how many people can receive this title - but they do have to have distinguished personal service to the British monarch under their belt.

CBE - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire - the third class of five which form the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, following Knight Grand Cross and Knight Commander. The Order of the British Empire rewards contributions to the Arts, Sciences, Charitable work and Public Service.

As well as these honours and awards, Attenborough has also racked up a fair few letters thanks to his involvement in various societies.

FRS - Fellow of the Royal Society - granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London following a peer review process on the basis of excellence in science.

FSA - a member of the Society of Antiquaries of London - an educational charity that promotes the understanding of the human past.

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FRSA - a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce - an organisation filled with what are described as 'changemakers' who help enable 'people, places and the planet to flourish'.

The broadcaster has been in the business for 70 years.
Alistair Heap / Alamy Stock Photo

FLS - a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London - the world's oldest active biological society.

FZS - a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London - a conservation charity whose mission, much like Attenborough's, is to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, and helping people and wildlife live together.

FRSGS - A Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society - an honorary fellowship title awarded by the organisation which promotes 'geography and a joined-up understanding of people, places and the planet'. awarded in recognition of services to the society and to the wider discipline of geography.

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FRSB - Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology - another honorary fellowship acknowledging 'exceptional service to biology, particular eminence or significant influence in the life sciences'.

Fans made clear Attenborough deserves every one of his letters.
Twitter/@TattyBeanPie

Deep breath - we made it to the end of Attenborough's name.

Twitter users were quick to celebrate the broadcaster after all of his letters were pointed out, with fans describing the 96-year-old as a 'national treasure'.

Featured Image Credit: JEP Celebrity Photos / Alistair Heap / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: David Attenborough, Sir David Attenborough, TV and Film

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is the Community Desk Lead at LADbible Group. Emily first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route. She went on to graduate with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University before contributing to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems. She joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features, and now works as Community Desk Lead to commission and write human interest stories from across the globe.

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