A British radio station accidentally sent shockwaves across the UK this week after falsely announcing that King Charles III had died.
The alarming mistake briefly interrupted regular programming and triggered an official emergency broadcast procedure usually reserved for the death of a reigning monarch.
Listeners were left stunned as solemn announcements played across the airwaves before the station suddenly went silent.
The dramatic blunder quickly sparked panic online while Buckingham Palace continued carrying on with business as usual.
King Charles Death Announcement Sends Listeners Into Panic
Listeners across parts of England were caught completely off guard on Tuesday after Radio Caroline mistakenly announced that King Charles III had died.
The station abruptly cut regular programming and activated what broadcasters call the “Death of a Monarch” procedure, a formal protocol British media outlets keep prepared in the event a reigning monarch passes away.
According to a report from Page Six, presenters suddenly interrupted broadcasts with a solemn statement announcing the alleged death of the 77-year-old king.
“This is Radio Caroline. We have suspended our normal programs until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III,” the broadcast declared.
Moments later, a second announcement followed. “This is Radio Caroline. His Majesty King Charles III has passed away. As a mark of respect, we will play continuous, suitable music until further notice.”
The station then aired “God Save the King” before unexpectedly falling silent for approximately 15 minutes.
King Charles Broadcast Error Blamed On Computer Glitch
After panic quickly spread among listeners, Radio Caroline later confirmed the announcement had been triggered accidentally.
Station manager Peter Moore issued a public apology explaining that the alarming broadcast stemmed from a technical malfunction inside the station’s studio.
“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 (May 19), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away,” Moore wrote on Facebook.
The station’s silence after the announcement reportedly helped staff realize something had gone terribly wrong.
“Radio Caroline then fell silent as would be required, which alerted us to restore programming and issue an on-air apology,” Moore explained.
He also directly addressed both the monarch and listeners impacted by the confusion. “We apologize to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused,” he continued.
The station did not clarify exactly how long the false report remained live before employees intervened. Archived playback from the broadcast also reportedly disappeared from the station’s website shortly afterward.
King Charles Rumors Spark Emotional Reactions Online
The false report quickly spread across social media as shocked listeners shared how they reacted to hearing the unexpected announcement. Some admitted they immediately believed the news was real.
“I dashed indoors shouting to the missus ‘He’s dead! Charlie is dead!’ She looked puzzled,” one listener recalled online after discovering the report was false.
Another person described hearing the announcement while driving home from work. “I heard this on my car stereo as I was just leaving work and for a moment I had to ask myself whether it was true or just a sick joke.”
Others admitted the sudden interruption genuinely frightened them before clarification arrived. “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 listener wrote.
King Charles Was Carrying Out Public Duties During The Mix-Up
Ironically, the frightening mistake unfolded while King Charles and Queen Camilla were actively carrying out royal engagements in Northern Ireland.
The royal couple spent part of the day visiting Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, where they met performers, watched folk dancers and sampled Irish whiskey during public appearances.
The outing came shortly after Charles and Camilla returned from a four-day state visit to the United States.
During that trip, they reportedly visited the White House and met President Donald Trump before attending multiple engagements across New York City.
Charles and Camilla also stopped at the 9/11 Memorial and participated in a Harlem Grown event centered around urban farming and local children. The trip concluded with a business reception at Rockefeller Center.
King Charles Has Faced Multiple False Death Rumors Since Cancer Diagnosis
The radio station mistake is only the latest incident involving false reports about King Charles’ health.
Since Buckingham Palace revealed in February 2024 that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for an enlarged prostate, online speculation about his condition has repeatedly circulated.
Last year, Buckingham Palace was forced to directly deny another false death rumor after Russian media outlets spread claims that Charles had died.
At the time, the palace released a statement to Russian state-run agency TASS firmly shutting down the reports.
“We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business,” the statement read.