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The Prince of Wales has described Sir David Attenborough as a “big inspiration” to him growing up, and the motivation behind his new wildlife documentary highlighting the work of rangers. In an unexpected appearance at a screening earlier this week, Prince William credited the veteran nature presenter with “being able to present wonderful parts of the world to many of us most of us will never get a chance to visit”. He said he hoped his new six-part series, called Guardians, “does the same kind of thing”. The prince and Sir David share a passion for conserving the natural world, and have supported each other’s projects in the field.

The heir to the throne has attended screenings of the broadcaster’s documentaries privately, while Sir David has been a champion of Prince William’s environmentally focused Earthshot Prize since its inception. Now taking a lead from the 99-year-old host of Ocean and Planet Earth, the prince said his new series “reminds people that there are still wonderful parts of the world and there is still hope, and there’s still amazing work being done”. He surprised those attending the screening of the series when he walked into a central London hotel and sat with journalists to watch the first three episodes. Guardians will focus on how the work of rangers – who protect endangered animals whose role has become significantly more risky. Around 1,400 rangers have died in the past decade. “This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet,” the prince told reporters. “It shouldn’t be. Protecting the natural world shouldn’t be that dangerous. “Being a soldier, a police officer, the emergency services – these jobs are dangerous, people put their lives on the line. “I don’t think people realise it’s the same for these guys and girls around the world.” He attributed the increased threat to “community conflicts or civil wars, or illegal fishing, or poaching – whatever it might be is just spreading further and further across the globe”. A spokesperson for the prince said he turned up to emphasise the importance of the series to him on a personal level. “The project was driven by him,” the spokesperson told the BBC. “He wanted to show the incredible work rangers do for people around the world.” Each episode will feature an on-screen introduction by Prince William, who also appears in a trailer for the project. The prince also spoke about the challenge of recruiting the next generation of rangers. He said: “They ask, why would I do that? Why would I go and risk my life to do that? No one seems to notice and no one seems to care. I’m not necessarily paid enough, I’m not valued enough by society.”

Prince William stressed that rangers “do so much more than just protecting wildlife”. “It’s about the community initiatives they do, it’s the education, it’s the teaching, the scientific research,” he said. “And if we are to reach our goals, and we do generally as a world care about the natural environment, then we need more of these guys and girls.” Rangers are tasked with overseeing natural areas and the wildlife within them, but increasingly have to fend off poachers, who seek to traffic or kill animals – such as elephants, tigers and rhinos – that have body parts prized by some. Poachers can be armed and encounters with rangers can prove fatal. In the year to May 2024, 38 out of 140 deaths were homicides, according to the International Ranger Federation (IRF). In November, the prince announced a new life insurance scheme to cover 10,000 rangers who safeguard Africa’s wildlife. The screening was also attended by Rohit Singh, vice-president of the IRF, who described rangers as “essential planetary health workers” and echoed the Prince’s concerns. He said: “One statistic that always comes to my mind is that 82% of rangers say they don’t want their kids to become rangers – so if we don’t change this, how are we going to get more rangers? “There are more hairdressers in the UK than there are rangers in the world’s protected areas.” The first episode of the series, launched by the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife and co-produced by Zandland, is available from Friday on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social channels, with a new episode released every Friday.

The 42-year-old royal has created the six-part show for BBC Earth’s digital platforms via his Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife program and it will tell the story of rangers who fight to protect threatened environments and do “one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet”.

In a statement Prince William explained: “[I have had] the privilege of meeting a number of rangers throughout my life and have seen firsthand the vital work they do.

“Yet their stories are often overlooked or misunderstood. The reality is that protecting our natural world has become one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet. We need to understand and recognize nature’s guardians and the critical work they do.

“The rangers we meet in this series are an inspiration to us all. Every day, they take huge risks as nature’s front line of defense, standing between poachers and endangered species, supporting sustainable human-animal coexistence and fighting habitat loss.

“As they work to protect our oceans, our forests, our plains, our mountains and biodiversity, they are also educating, community building and furthering science. These are the unsung heroes – the true guardians of the natural world, defending nature and the future of the planet for all of us.”

A synopsis of the series added: “As a digital-first series, each 6–10-minute episode offers exclusive access and first-hand accounts of the lives of rangers and nature protectors as they urgently work to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems.

“We encounter incredible individuals who make huge sacrifices to safeguard the planet’s most threatened environments. From the snowy mountains of the Himalayas to the remote rainforests of Brazil, the series is filmed in some of the most breathtaking yet challenging locations that the Guardians call home, with each episode highlighting the pivotal role of these inspirational individuals.”

Prince William has voiced the trailer for the series and he also gives introductions to each individual episode.

The show is available on the BBC Earth YouTube channel and the broadcaster’s social media channels. The first episode drops on Friday (23.05.25) and the rest will be delivered weekly.

Prince William is doubling down on his commitment to environmental conservation and supporting those who safeguard it.

The British royal has launched a six-part docuseries titled Guardians, which highlights the dangerous work of wildlife rangers around the world.

The series, produced by his Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife and award-winning studio ZANDLAND, will be released weekly on BBC Earth’s YouTube channel.

The first episode will be released on Friday.

The Prince of Wales, 42, has honed his presenting skills for a six-part BBC series set across the globe including Africa, Amazon rainforest and Himalayers.

William’s new documentary will highlight the importance of protecting the natural world Credit: PA

The documentary takes viewers into the lives of rangers who do the most ‘dangerous’ job on the planet Credit: PA

The Prince of Wales is a dedicated environmentalist who has worked with David Attenborough Credit: AFP

Speaking ahead of the release of episode one today, the prince said he wanted to “showcase” the “unsung heroes” working on the “front line of conservation”.

He warned that 1,400 wildlife rangers have died in the past ten years – which is around two every week.

Speaking after an advance screening this week, he said: “At some point we have to say enough’s enough and highlight all the bravery that these men and women do on a daily basis to protect our natural world.

“This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet and it really shouldn’t be. Protecting the natural world, it shouldn’t be that dangerous.

“Many people think being a soldier, being a policeman, emergency services, things like these jobs are dangerous and putting lives on the line, but don’t think people realise it’s the same for these guys and girls around the world.”

He added that another reason for the six-part series was to ensure the rangers felt their work was valued and recognised to encourage future recruits.

William said: “Because it’s almost too dangerous, and they are like ‘why would I do that? Why would I go risk my life? no one seems to care?’

And said: “This is now one of the most dangerous jobs on the planet.”

The series shows how rangers across the globe fight to save endangered animals such as rhinos, elephants and snow leopards against the scourge of wildlife poaching.

Last year William helped launch a life insurance programme for rangers working to protect animals across the globe.

He added: “I’ve been dying to do something around this space for a while

“This one is particularly special to me because I’ve gots lots of friends and people I’ve met over years on my trips abroad who are living this life on a daily basis.

“The feedback I’m getting back from them now and have been for quite some time is just how much more dangerous the job is becoming.”

Earlier this month he paid tribute to the “immense sacrifices” rangers make after two scouts were killed in Mozambique.

William will present all six episodes of the BBC programme Credit: PA

In 2022 he paid tribute to “committed and brave” ranger Anton Mzimba who was shot and killed outside his home near Kruger National Park.

William is the presenter on all six episodes of show ‘Guardians’ which will be available, at first, online on the BBC Earth’s YouTube channel.

He added: “David Attenborough, big inspiration for me growing up, and being able to present wonderful parts of the world to lots of people who never get the chance to visit, and I hope this does the same sort of thing and reminds people there are still wonderful parts of the world and still amazing work being done.”

But he wants the shows which tell stories behind the wildlife rangers’ work can also draw attention to those who protect the film crews, know the animal trails and keep them safe.

He said: “Without them there is nothing to go and see.”

And added: “It’s not about the guns and the bullets, which we do hear a lot about, it’s about the community initiatives they do, its the education, it’s the teaching, the scientific research, these people do so much more than just protecting wildlife.”

United for Wildlife, set up by William in 2014 aims to increase help for rangers and has called for 1.5 million needed by 2020.

A new episode from the series by The Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife will be released every week.