UK Radio Station Corrects False Announcement About King Charles III’s Death
UK radio station apologises after mistakenly announcing King Charles III’s death on air.
UK-based radio station Radio Caroline has issued a public apology after a technical malfunction mistakenly triggered an emergency broadcast announcing the death of King Charles III, briefly activating the country’s “Death of a Monarch” protocol.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, May 19, at the station’s main studio in Maldon, Essex, when a computer error reportedly set off the pre-installed emergency procedure that UK broadcasters maintain for official announcements of a monarch’s death. The automated system incorrectly aired a message stating that “His Majesty King Charles III has passed away.”
Station manager Peter Moore confirmed in a public statement that the activation was accidental and caused by a computer malfunction. He explained that the protocol is part of standard preparedness across UK broadcasters, designed to be used only in the event of a genuine national announcement, and stressed that it was triggered in error.
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Following the unintended broadcast, Radio Caroline temporarily went silent, a step consistent with emergency protocol procedures. The silence alerted staff to the malfunction, after which normal programming was restored and an on-air correction and apology were issued to listeners.
The station later reiterated its apology in a Facebook post, expressing regret for any distress caused to both King Charles III and listeners. It also noted its long-standing tradition of broadcasting royal Christmas messages under both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, and expressed hope of continuing this practice in the future.
The exact duration of the erroneous broadcast has not been officially confirmed. However, reports indicate that the station’s playback system was unavailable for part of the Tuesday afternoon transmission window, suggesting the issue occurred between 1:58 pm and 5:00 pm local time.
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