A UK radio station accidentally announced the death of King Charles III after a computer error triggered the country's emergency "Death of a Monarch" broadcast protocol, briefly shocking listeners across Britain.
According to reports, the incident took place on Tuesday, May 19, at Radio Caroline's main studio in Maldon, Essex. The station suddenly aired a message claiming that "His Majesty King Charles III has passed away" before programming abruptly went silent, following standard protocol used by UK broadcasters in the event of a monarch's death.
Station manager Peter Moore later clarified that the announcement was caused by a technical malfunction that accidentally activated the emergency system. In a Facebook post, Moore said the procedure is something "all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require."
"We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused," he wrote, adding that the station quickly restored regular programming after realising the mistake.
The timing of the blunder added to the confusion, as King Charles and Queen Camilla were in Northern Ireland during a three-day public visit, attending events in Belfast and meeting residents.
Radio Caroline, one of Britain's most well-known independent broadcasters, has historically aired the monarch's Christmas message, first under Queen Elizabeth II and now under King Charles. Moore said the station hopes to continue the tradition "for many years to come."
While Buckingham Palace has not publicly commented on the incident, the accidental announcement quickly sparked reactions online, with many listeners initially believing the shocking report before discovering it was false.
