Naturalist Sir David Attenborough has presented a fossilised giant tooth from an extinct shark he had found in Malta to Prince George, son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambrige, Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The young prince looked captivated as he handled the tooth of a carcharocles megalodon, a shark that was once a sea predator, the BBC reports.

Sir David and Prince William both campaign on environmental issues.

The event was held in the palace grounds to allow for social distancing.

William and the veteran broadcaster watched A Life On Our Planet, in which Sir David reflects on the defining moments of his life's work and the devastating changes he has witnessed. 

The giant shark tooth given to Prince George was found by Sir David during a family holiday to Malta in the late 1960s.

It was embedded in the island nation's soft yellow limestone, and is about 23 million years old.

Carcharocles megalodon is believed to have grown up to 15 metres in length, twice the length of the great white shark.