Sir David Attenborough teaches President Obama about manners by refusing to reschedule their meeting

President Obama interviewed David Attenborough in the White House (BBC)

Sir David Attenborough taught the President of the United States a lesson in manners when he refused his request to bring their meeting forward.

The broadcaster and naturalist met with Mr Obama to celebrate his 89th birthday - but only after the President unsuccessfully tried to change the date of their event to the day before.

Sir David is a busy man and had already made plans to give a talk at Kew Gardens that evening, which he was unwilling to cancel, according to The Evening Standard.

Sarah Sands, the editor of The Standard, wrote: "Attenborough was apologetic but firm. He had agreed to speak at Kew the night before. He fulfilled that engagement.

“A lesson for the over-invited.”

Mr Obama willingly cancelled his commitment and gushed about being a “huge admirer” of Sir David’s work during their meeting, which was filmed for the BBC show,‘President Obama in conversation with Sir David Attenborough’.