King Charles sent retiring BBC reporter a ‘warm-hearted’ message — years after calling him an ‘awful man’

It was a send-off fit for a king.

King Charles sent a heartfelt message to retiring BBC reporter Nicholas Witchell last month after the monarch reportedly called the journalist an “awful man” back in 2005.

In the video, which was shown at the 70-year-old journalist’s retirement party, the British monarch joked about the “ups and downs” the pair had during Witchell’s stint as a reporter covering the royal family.

“It did come as a surprise to everyone there including Nicholas,” one attendee told The Daily Mail. “I think it would be fair to say the King’s message was generous and warm-hearted.”

A second source told the outlet that: “The feeling within the Corporation is that everyone is pleased the King has buried the hatchet.”

“What happened between them is a long time ago and both men are of an age now where it’s better not to bear grudges.”

Withell, who worked at the BBC for nearly 50 years, did not divulge any other information about the message from the 75-year-old king.

“Yes, there were a couple of messages – one of which was certainly a surprise,” the journalist told the outlet before declining to answer any more questions.

The Post reached out to Witchell for comment.

Witchell’s feud with Charles began in 2005 when the then-Prince of Wales was on a vacation with Prince Harry and Prince William in the Swiss Alps shortly before his marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles.

During a photoshoot with reports, Charles was caught on a hot mic slamming the press generally but Witchell in particular.

“Bloody people,” Charles was heard saying after Witchell asked him a question about his upcoming nuptials. “I can’t bear that man.”

“I mean, he is so awful. He really is,” the eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II added.

In an interview published last year, Witchell revealed that he “was a bit taken aback” by the senior member of the royal family’s remarks. However, he said the response was likely due to a story he had covered several years ago involving Charles vacationing in the Mediterranean.

“So many people think royal correspondents are in the pocket of Buckingham Palace, blowing smoke up the Royal Family’s rear end,” Witchell said in the interview. “It did me no harm among those people to then discover that he really didn’t like me at all. It’s a fact – he didn’t really talk to me for a few years.”

In 2019, the pair allegedly managed to patch up their relationship when Charles became a patron to the Normandy Memorial Trust, which was co-founded by Witchell.

The monarch’s olive branch also comes as he is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer.

Charles, who has canceled all public engagements since receiving the diagnosis, was also spotted for the first time Sunday while attending an Easter church service with certain members of his family.

Britain’s monarch could be seen waving from his car with Queen Camilla, 76, as they arrived at the chapel — where both his mother and father are buried — and were later spotted waving to fans from a distance.

During the service, both Charles and Camilla sat separately from other members of the royal family in an effort to remain healthy and safe.

It was also reported that the king would not be holding his annual Easter lunch with his family at Windsor Castle following the service.

A source close to the king told People that Charles is reportedly “progressing well” with his ongoing treatment and that he is currently planning a list of summer engagements without “committing to anything.”