Buckingham Palace Shuts Down Fake Russian News Claiming King Charles Has Died

Buckingham Palace refuted false reports of King Charles III's death fueled by Russian media. The palace swiftly confirmed the King's well-being and refuted the rumors.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton's recent absence from public view due to health concerns has sparked wild speculations. The speculations have also reportedly left Prince William distressed by the media intrusion, drawing parallels to his late mother, Princess Diana's experiences.

Buckingham Palace was recently compelled to refute rumors of King Charles III's demise following the circulation of a dubious "announcement" by Russian media outlets.

Despite the questionable authenticity of the statement, several mainstream Russian news outlets such as Sputnik, RIA Novosti, and Readkovka eagerly propagated the false news of the King's passing, referencing a supposed palace announcement.

The alleged message read, per NYP: "The following announcement is made by royal communications. The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon."

Pro-Kremlin Telegram channel Mash, which boasts 2.27 million subscribers, also shared the fake news of Charles' death in a post writing: "Britain's King Charles III has died, Buckingham Palace reports. The son of Elizabeth II ascended the throne less than a year ago – the coronation took place on May 6, 2023. He was 75 years old."

Following the fake news, Buckingham Palace swiftly responded to the situation, issuing a statement to the Russian state-run TASS news agency to refute the reports.

The palace affirmed that the King was actively engaged in both official duties and private affairs.

"We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business," Buckingham Palace stated.

The palace recently shared photos of the King back on official duty as he had in-person meetings with dignitaries from around the world.

The images of the King shared on March 6 marked his official return to his public royal duties. They also quelled fears surrounding his health, as he looked happy and well in the photos.

Following the correction by the palace, the Russian outlets issued corrections to rectify their earlier reports.

"Abort, we spoke too soon, the announcement turned out to be a fake," Mash acknowledged in an update. "Let us remember that a few months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and performed surgery on his prostate."

The 75-year-old monarch has been undergoing cancer treatment since late January; however, he has been maintaining his responsibilities despite health challenges. Notably, he convened with Baroness Patricia Scotland, the Commonwealth secretary general, on March 13, as evidenced in a photo released by the palace.

Additionally, he delivered a pre-recorded video address in observance of Commonwealth Day just two days prior. Looking ahead, Charles is anticipated to participate in the annual Trooping of the Colour ceremony on June 15, either on horseback or in a carriage, as tradition dictates.

The death rumor comes as concerns persist surrounding Kate Middleton's health as she recuperates from abdominal surgery performed on January 17.

Despite recent public appearances, such as a visit to a local farm stand with her husband, Prince William, over the weekend, the absence of accompanying photographs has only heightened speculation about her well-being.

This outing came shortly after the Princess of Wales faced scrutiny for her involvement in editing a poorly Photoshopped family picture, which depicted her alongside her three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

The lingering questions surrounding Kate's whereabouts have contributed to widespread conspiracy theories not only about her but also about the broader British royal family.

As social media platforms become breeding grounds for far-fetched conspiracy theories surrounding Kate's health, Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah, on a segment of "Good Morning Britain," reflected on the recent public sighting of Kate and emphasized William's anguish over the invasive nature of media attention on his wife's health.

The host highlighted Kate's recent farm shop visit, noting the absence of accompanying photographs, fueling speculation on social media.

Nikkhah spoke about the Royals' understanding of social media's unpredictability, stating: "I think they know social media has a life of its own."

She continued: "Having seen his mother go through quite a lot of that, the hounding of his mother, I think he feels he is seeing elements of that being breached again in terms of the demands and screeches at his wife over her medical privacy and that is hurting him."

"He always has been, ever since he was a child and ever since he's been with Catherine since university," Nikkhah added.