A shocking technical error by an English radio station led to the accidental announcement of King Charles III’s death, causing widespread grief among listeners, RadarOnline.com reports.
Radio Caroline, the station responsible for the error, attributed the incorrect news of the 77-year-old monarch’s death, who is currently battling cancer, to a “computer mistake.”
In a Facebook post, the station explained that a computer glitch had mistakenly activated the pre-recorded royal emergency broadcast procedure.
“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 it, was accidentally activated on Tuesday afternoon (19 May), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” Radio Caroline stated, addressing the embarrassing incident.
The post clarified that, following the announcement, both of the station’s primary full-time channels, broadcasting across much of England, went silent to mourn the king, as per the UK protocol for a monarch’s death.
The silence on air alerted the operators to the error, prompting a quick restoration of regular programming and an on-air apology for the distressing mistake.
Radio Caroline expressed its desire to restore trust with the royal family, noting its history of broadcasting royal Christmas messages, and apologized to King Charles “and to our listeners for any distress caused,” according to station manager Peter Moore’s post.
Audience reactions varied in the comments.
“It was a shock, but after telling my wife and neighbors, I realized it was a mistake, and perhaps it was the relief, but then the laughter set in,” one listener commented.
Another said, “I heard this on my car stereo yesterday as I was just leaving work, and for a moment I had to ask myself whether it was true or just a sick joke. Thankfully, it was neither but instead a simple technical error.”
A third listener shared, “I heard this while working in our garage. I dashed indoors, shouting to the missus, ‘He’s dead! Charlie is bloody dead!’ She looked puzzled and said, ‘Well, he was just at the flower show yesterday,'” explaining their relief upon learning the announcement was false.
“It did give me a bit of a shock, but I accept these mistakes can happen and was glad to find out it wasn’t true,” another person remarked.
In a clip shared by The Telegraph, the song What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes was playing on Radio Caroline when the music abruptly stopped for the announcement.
A man’s voice informed the audience, “This is Radio Caroline. We have suspended our normal programs until further notice as a mark of formal respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III.”
The announcement stressed the urgency, repeating, “This is Radio Caroline. His Majesty King Charles III has passed away. As a mark of respect, we will now be playing suitable continuous music until further notice.”
Compounding the error, the announcement falsely confirmed the king’s death, stating, “The news media has confirmed that His Majesty King Charles III has passed away. Consequently, as a mark of respect, Radio Caroline is suspending its normal programs,” followed by the British national anthem.
At the time of the startling announcement, the monarch was alive and well, engaged in an unannounced three-day visit to Northern Ireland.
