A British radio station has apologised to King Charles III and its audience after a technical malfunction led to a false announcement claiming the monarch had died.
The incident happened on Tuesday when Radio Caroline mistakenly activated its emergency “Death of a Monarch” protocol, briefly broadcasting that King Charles had passed away.
Explaining the mix-up, station manager Peter Moore said the error originated from a computer malfunction at the station’s main studio.
“Due to a computer error at our main studio, the death of a monarch was accidentally activated on Tuesday afternoon, mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” Moore said.
According to him, the activation automatically shut down normal programming, a standard procedure designed for royal death announcements.
“Radio Caroline then fell silent as would be required, which alerted us to restore programming and issue an on-air apology,” he explained.
The station stressed that the announcement was entirely false and expressed regret over the confusion and concern it may have caused.
“We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused,” the station said.
Radio Caroline, founded in 1964 and known for its broadcasts across Europe and online platforms, said it continues to support royal broadcasts, including the monarchy’s Christmas messages.
At the time of the incident, King Charles and Queen Camilla were in Northern Ireland carrying out official engagements, including cultural visits and meetings with local officials.
There has been no indication from Buckingham Palace of any health emergency involving the King, who has continued to perform public duties while undergoing medical treatment first disclosed in 2024.
