The moment King Charles was caught insulting BBC journalist Nicholas Witchell into microphone ‘blunder’

Perhaps it was the cold weather that made Prince Charles so snap, or simply that his wedding was only a week away. Anyway, the result was extraordinary.

In 2005, during a photo shoot with the press at the ski resort of Klosters in the Swiss Alps, the king was questioned about his wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, which was to take place the following week.

Surrounded by cameras, journalists and microphones, Nicholas Witchell, who had been the BBC’s royal correspondent since 1998, asked Charles how he felt about the impending marriage.

After Charles gave his answer, his face drooped and he put on a rather sarcastic grin.

He then mumbled under his breath to Prince William and Harry, “Bloody people. I can’t bear that man. He’s so awful. He really is.’

Nicholas Witchell, BBC Royal Correspondent revealed in 2014 that the King had not apologized for calling him a ‘terrible’ man

The microphones picked up his remark quite clearly, but whether the king realized his scathing remark would be heard is up for debate.

William remained cool, calm and composed as he continued to answer questions about the wedding, jokingly saying, “If only I don’t lose the rings.” I have one responsibility and I will certainly do something wrong.’

The prince would witness his father’s wedding to now Camilla.

Aides suggested that Charles was annoyed that William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton had been photographed the previous day.

Paddy Harverson, Charles’ press secretary at the time, said: ‘We recognize that we cannot stop photographers from taking these images, but we hope each year that they will respect the privacy of family and friends and their need for a private holiday.

Thanks to Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, we now know that this was a particularly stressful time for the family, with – according to Harry – both brothers expressing serious reservations about their father’s decision to remarry.

“There were dads taking pictures all over the place all day.”

Mr Harverson later said: ‘Nicholas was in the line of fire when the Prince took out his general frustration with the paparazzi and it boiled over at the first person to ask a question,’ he said.

‘It wasn’t personal. He’s sorry he said it. He really didn’t mean to take it out on Nicholas.”

Mr Witchell revealed in 2014 that the king had not apologized for calling him a ‘terrible’ man before saying he had done his job properly.

The reporter said, “There was never an apology, and why should there be? He was probably right. You know, horrible man.’

He mumbled under his breath to Prince and Harry, “Damned people. I can’t bear that man. He’s so awful. He’s real’

William remained calm as he continued to answer questions about the wedding, jokingly saying, “As long as I don’t lose the rings.” I have one responsibility and I will definitely do something wrong’

Mr. Witchell and Charles argued further after the incident, most notably at an environmental fundraiser in Washing DC ten years later.

The reporter asked the King why he “still cared so much about environmental issues,” to which Charles replied, “Well, I’ll turn it the other way around.”

“I think you’d be more surprised if I didn’t care about those things.

“But I think mostly in terms of what I’ve been talking about right now, there’s an awful lot to worry about.”

Charles then hurried into his car and left.