A British radio broadcaster has publicly apologised to King Charles III and its audience after a technical malfunction resulted in a false report announcing the death of the monarch during a live broadcast.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Radio Caroline mistakenly activated its emergency “Death of a Monarch” broadcast system due to what the station later described as a computer-related error.
In an official statement released after the incident, station manager Peter Moore explained the circumstances surrounding the mistaken announcement.
“Due to a computer error at our main studio, the death of a monarch was accidentally activated on Tuesday afternoon (19 May), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” he said.
According to Moore, the technical glitch also caused the station’s normal programming to automatically stop, in line with long-standing procedures that would typically be followed in the event of the death of a reigning monarch.
“Radio Caroline then fell silent as would be required, which alerted us to restore programming and issue an on-air apology,” he added.
The broadcaster stressed that the report was entirely inaccurate and expressed regret over the confusion and concern the announcement may have caused listeners and members of the royal family.
“We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused,” the station stated.
Founded in 1964, Radio Caroline is widely recognised as one of Britain’s most historic radio stations, known for its offshore broadcasting legacy and its audience across Europe as well as online streaming platforms. The station also noted that it continues to participate in royal-related broadcasts, including annual Christmas messages from the monarchy.
At the time the erroneous announcement aired, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were in Northern Ireland carrying out official engagements. Their itinerary reportedly included cultural events and meetings with community representatives and government officials.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace has made no indication of any medical emergency involving the King. The monarch has continued to perform public duties in recent months following medical treatment details that became public in 2024.
