Huw Edwards learnt about Queen Elizabeth II's death only ten seconds before he had to make the announcement on air.
The death of the Queen was announced at around 6.30pm on September 8, with Huw leading the coverage for the BBC.
He had been presenting the rolling coverage for around six hours before the announcement and continued into the evening as tributes flooded in for the Queen.
Viewers have called for him to receive a knighthood over his coverage of her death but he admitted he is 'embarrassed' by it.
"People who have spent a lifetime giving time to deserving causes... don't get anything," he said.
"So, although I don't mean it disrespectfully, the idea of a knighthood embarrasses me."
The 61-year-old veteran newsreader went on to recall the moment he found out Her Majesty died.
Huw said to Radio Times: "Usually, when you have a breaking story, there's a lot of shouting in your ear from the gallery, saying: 'Go to the news, go to the news', but this time was different.
"The announcement came up on the wires and the gallery said: 'The announcement is here. Take your time. Speak when you are ready. Don't rush'."
Her Majesty's death certificate says she passed away at 3.10pm, while Huw announced her death at 6.30pm.
The Ten O'Clock News presenter wore a black suit and tie as he told BBC viewers: “A few moments ago, Buckingham Palace announced the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
He then read out the statement from the Palace, which said: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.
“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”
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Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell recently revealed how Huw, who joined the BBC in 1984, told him of his own preparation for breaking the news of the Queen’s death to the nation.
Campbell shared on Twitter : “Huw Edwards told me a few months ago he had been preparing, practising and even rehearsing in front of his bathroom mirror for this moment for some time.
“He said too that the Queen’s death would be the biggest challenge to BBC News in its history. He did superbly.”
He continued: “I am out of the country and have not seen much of the BBC coverage but Fiona Miller [Campbell’s wife] tells me he has been “absolutely brilliant”. Which should surprise nobody.”
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