A British radio station, Radio Caroline, has apologised after mistakenly broadcasting a false report announcing the death of King Charles III.
According to reports by The Guardian, the incident happened on Tuesday afternoon at the station’s Essex studio, when an emergency system designed for the eventual death of a monarch was accidentally triggered due to a computer malfunction.
Key Highlights:
- Radio Caroline apologised after falsely announcing the death of King Charles III due to a computer error.
- The station said an emergency “Death of a Monarch” procedure was accidentally triggered at its Essex studio.
- Station manager Peter Moore confirmed the mistake and said normal broadcasting was quickly restored.
- The broadcaster apologised to the King and listeners for the distress caused by the false announcement.
- The incident happened while King Charles III and Queen Camilla were on an official visit to Northern Ireland.
In a statement shared on Facebook, station manager Peter Moore explained that the broadcaster’s “Death of a Monarch” procedure had been unintentionally activated.
“Due to a computer error at our main studio, the death of a nonarch procedure, which all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require, was accidentally activated on Tuesday afternoon (19 May), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” Moore stated.
The station said staff quickly realised something was wrong after an unusual silence followed the announcement. Normal programming was later restored and an on-air apology was issued immediately.
Moore expressed regret over the incident and apologised to both the monarch and listeners for any distress caused.
“Caroline has been pleased to broadcast Her Majesty the Queen’s, and now the king’s, Christmas message and we hope to do so for many years to come,” he added.
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“We apologise to HM the king and to our listeners for any distress caused.”
Radio Caroline did not disclose how long the incorrect announcement remained on air before it was corrected. Archived playback from the broadcast was also reportedly unavailable on the station’s website by Wednesday.
The incident occurred while King Charles III and Queen Camilla were on an official visit to Northern Ireland, where they attended cultural events in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Founded in 1964, Radio Caroline became one of Britain’s most famous pirate radio stations, broadcasting from ships positioned off the English coast before ending offshore operations in 1990.
