A United Kingdom radio station has issued an apology after mistakenly announcing the death of King Charles III due to what it described as a technical malfunction that wrongly activated its emergency “Death of a Monarch” protocol.
Radio Caroline said the false announcement was aired on Tuesday after a computer error triggered the station’s standby procedure designed strictly for use in the event of the monarch’s death.
Station manager Peter Moore, in a statement shared on social media, explained that the incident led to an unintended broadcast before normal service was restored.
“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 on Tuesday afternoon (19 May), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” Moore said.
He added that the station quickly realised something was wrong when programming went off air unexpectedly.
“Radio Caroline then fell silent as would be required, which alerted us to restore programming and issue an on-air apology,” he said.
The station apologised directly to the British monarch and listeners who may have been distressed by the incorrect announcement.
“We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused,” the statement added.
At the time of the incident, King Charles and Queen Camilla were undertaking official engagements in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
According to Buckingham Palace, the royal couple attended a cultural event at Thompson Dock, the historic site where the Titanic was built, and met performers preparing for an Irish music festival.
They also visited Titanic Distillers before holding meetings with Northern Ireland political leaders at Hillsborough Castle near Belfast.
