UK Radio Station Apologises After Mistakenly Announcing Death of King Charles III Due to Computer Error
A British radio station has apologised after a computer error led it to mistakenly announce the death of King Charles III and activate its emergency "Death of a Monarch" protocol.
Radio Caroline triggered the pre-recorded emergency procedure on Tuesday afternoon, May 19, 2026, briefly telling listeners that the King had died. The station then fell silent as per protocol before playing the national anthem "God Save the King."
The error occurred at the station’s main studio in Essex. Staff quickly noticed the mistake when the broadcast went off-air, restored normal programming, and issued an immediate on-air apology to listeners.
Station manager Peter Moore said: “Due to a computer error at our main studio, the Death of a Monarch procedure was accidentally activated. We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused.” He added that the station hoped to continue broadcasting the King’s Christmas Message for many years to come.
At the time of the false announcement, King Charles III was alive and well. He was on an official visit to Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla, where he even joked about a seagull dropping something on his jacket, saying it had not landed on his head.
The incident has been described as a broadcaster’s nightmare, caused purely by a technical glitch with no link to the King’s actual health.
Radio Caroline triggered the pre-recorded emergency procedure on Tuesday afternoon, May 19, 2026, briefly telling listeners that the King had died. The station then fell silent as per protocol before playing the national anthem "God Save the King."
The error occurred at the station’s main studio in Essex. Staff quickly noticed the mistake when the broadcast went off-air, restored normal programming, and issued an immediate on-air apology to listeners.
Station manager Peter Moore said: “Due to a computer error at our main studio, the Death of a Monarch procedure was accidentally activated. We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused.” He added that the station hoped to continue broadcasting the King’s Christmas Message for many years to come.
At the time of the false announcement, King Charles III was alive and well. He was on an official visit to Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla, where he even joked about a seagull dropping something on his jacket, saying it had not landed on his head.
The incident has been described as a broadcaster’s nightmare, caused purely by a technical glitch with no link to the King’s actual health.
