Nicholas Witchell, a familiar face on BBC News for nearly half a century, has announced his retirement, leaving fans to reflect on the end of an era. The BBC News Press Team took to their

official account to confirm Witchell's impending retirement, scheduled for next year, after an incredible 47-year tenure with the broadcaster.

In their announcement, they expressed gratitude for his remarkable service, highlighting his extensive reporting from various corners of the world and his role as a presenter on key BBC News programs.

Colleagues and fans flooded the comments section, expressing their best wishes and acknowledging Witchell's significant contributions to journalism.

MonarchyUK tweeted, "Wishing Nicholas Witchell a happy retirement. He was very supportive of me when I first started my royal reporting career a decade ago, taking time out of his busy schedule to answer my many questions."

RoyalDickie commented, "The retirement of the @BBCNews's #NickWitchell after 47 years will be a very sad departure. He's one of the few people at #Auntie with gravitas. A good innings and worth a #GoldRolex for staying the course."

Many simply summed up their sentiments with phrases like "End of an era" and acknowledged Witchell's remarkable career, comparing it to the longevity of legendary BBC News correspondent John Simpson.

Throughout his tenure, Witchell covered some of the most significant events and stories, including Queen Elizabeth's funeral and various royal weddings. However, one unforgettable moment in 2005 was when Prince Charles was inadvertently recorded expressing his unfavorable opinion of Witchell, stating, "I can't bear that man. He's so awful. He really is."

Reflecting on this incident in 2012, Witchell commented, "There has never been an apology, and why should there be?" Photo by BBC. Photo by Chmee2, Wikimedia commons.