Charles sent BBC royal reporter Nicholas Witchell heartfelt retirement tribute 19 years after blasting him as ‘awful’
KING Charles sent a heartfelt retirement tribute to BBC royal reporter Nicholas Witchell – 19 years after blasting him as “awful” during a furious outburst.
His Majesty, 75, sent a “generous” recording which was played at Witchell’s leaving party on March 21 following his retirement at the age of 70 last month.
In the clip, the King joked about the “ups and downs” the two men had experienced during the reporter’s stint following the Royal Family.
One attendee told the Mail on Sunday: “It did come as a surprise to everyone there including Nicholas.
“I think it would be fair to say the King’s message was generous and warm-hearted.”
The pair had a spat in 2005 when the then-Prince of Wales took sons Prince William and Harry to the Swiss Alps.
After the BBC man put a question to the King – who didn’t realise he could be heard – he snapped: “Bloody people. I can’t bear that man.
“I mean he is so awful, he really is.”
In an interview published last year, the veteran journalist admitted he “was a bit taken aback” by the remarks and the worldwide publicity the feud sparked.
He added: “It’s a fact – he didn’t really talk to me for a few years.”
The pair made up in 2019 when Charles became patron of Witchell’s Normandy Memorial Trust campaign to establish a permanent D-Day memorial.
Asked about the video message, Mr Witchell said: “There were a couple of messages – one of which was certainly a surprise.
“I had a very pleasant evening hosted by the director-general with a number of colleagues with whom I’ve worked over the nearly 48 years I’ve been at the BBC.”