- Radio station apologises for mix-up
A mistaken on-air announcement by UK-based radio station, Radio Caroline, claiming that King Charles III had died caused panic and confusion across parts of England on Friday after the station accidentally activated its emergency “Death of a Monarch” protocol.
Listeners were left stunned when regular programming was abruptly interrupted with a solemn announcement declaring that broadcasts had been suspended “as a mark of respect” following the supposed passing of the 77-year-old monarch.
“This is Radio Caroline. We have suspended our normal programs until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III,” the station reportedly announced before playing the British national anthem, “God Save the King,” and going off air for about 15 minutes.
The false broadcast quickly triggered widespread reactions on social media, with worried listeners scrambling for confirmation before it later emerged that the announcement had been made in error.
The station’s manager, Peter Moore, later issued a public apology, explaining that the embarrassing incident was caused by a computer malfunction that mistakenly triggered the pre-arranged royal death protocol maintained by British broadcasters.
“Due to a computer error at our main studio, the Death of a Monarch procedure, which all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require, was accidentally activated,” Moore said in a statement posted on Facebook.
“We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused,” he added.
The incident came while King Charles III and Queen Camilla were carrying out official engagements in Northern Ireland, including visits to Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and meetings with local performers.
The monarch has repeatedly been the subject of false death rumours since publicly revealing in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Earlier rumours circulated by Russian media in 2024 were dismissed by Buckingham Palace, which insisted that the king remained active in official and private duties despite undergoing treatment.
The latest mix-up has renewed conversations in Britain about the risks of automated broadcast systems and the sensitivity surrounding royal emergency protocols maintained by media organisations.