Viewers of BBC were concerned for Mr Witchell as he struggled to find his words during his live broadcast on the BBC News at Ten. He asked for time to “collect his thoughts” during a piece to camera outside Buckingham Palace to mark the news that Meghan Markle had given birth to her and Prince Harry’s first child. According to the Daily Mail, Mr Witchell said he wanted “the ground to open and swallow him” during the gaffe.

He told the newspaper: “I’d memorised, as you do, one minute twenty which was supposed to be the duration of the item, and just lost my train of thought.

“It was one of those moments when I wanted the ground to open and swallow me up.

“It was extremely embarrassing, it was a brain freeze, like for an actor on stage.”

People watching the broadcast took to Twitter to express their concern for the correspondent, who has been the royal expert at the BBC for years.

Some feared for his health, but worries were quickly rubbished by the programme’s editor Paul Royall.

He said Mr Witchell was “lost for words”.

Mr Royall added: “For those asking about Nick Witchell, he’s absolutely fine.

“Highly unusually for Nick he lost his train of thought and decided to hand back to the studio.

“This can happen sometimes even to the most experienced and respected in busy live news broadcasting.”

Addressing viewers, Mr Withcell began losing his trail of thought while talking about the baby’s name.

He said: “The first Anglo-American birth in the British royal family, uh, now we know, of course, that uh.

“Excuse me, just let me just collect my thoughts.

“The first Anglo-American birth in the British Royal Family, and it is certain, of course.

“I’m so sorry, let me just once again, uh, hand back to you, Ben.”

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