Koning Charles III. (Photo: Henry Nicholls/AFP)
A British radio station had to humbly apologize after mistakenly broadcasting a bulletin announcing the death of King Charles III.
“Due to a computer error at our main studio, the procedure for the death of a monarch – which all British stations keep ready in the hope that it will never be necessary – was accidentally activated on Tuesday afternoon (May 19), incorrectly announcing that the king had passed away,” the manager of Radio Caroline, Peter Moore, said in a statement on social media on Wednesday.
“Radio Caroline then held a moment of silence as required, warning us to resume the broadcast and make an on-air apology,” he further explained.
“Caroline proudly broadcast Queen Elizabeth’s, and now the King’s, Christmas message, and we hope to do so for many years to come. We apologize to King Charles and to our listeners for any upset caused,” the statement continued.
On the day of the erroneous announcement, King Charles and Queen Camilla were in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
The 77-year-old king and his wife took part in a cultural celebration at Thompson Dock, the port where the RMS Titanic stood before her maiden voyage, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Tuesday.
There they met artists and organizers who are preparing for the world famous traditional Irish music festival that takes place in August.
The royals also visited Titanic Distillers and learned more about whiskey making, before visiting a local charity promoting greater access to skills for digital careers.
The king and queen later also met the prime minister and deputy prime minister of Northern Ireland at Hillsborough Castle, a royal residence near Belfast.
King Charles, who announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer, said in a video message in December that his cancer treatment will be reduced this year, because he is responding well to treatment.
In the past month, he visited New York City and Washington, DC, where he addressed the US Congress in celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence. The king also addressed the British Parliament last week.
Additional source: CNN