UK Radio Issues Major False Report on 'Death of King Charles III,' Apologizes Citing Computer Error

Radio Caroline Sparks Controversy Over False Report of King Charles III's Death
Broadcaster Apologizes for Confusion Caused by the Incident

A British radio broadcaster has issued an official apology after airing a major false report announcing the death of King Charles III, who is 78 years old.

According to international media outlets such as AFP and The Guardian on May 20 (local time), Radio Caroline, a British broadcaster once famous for its "pirate broadcasts," stated via its social media accounts, "We apologize for all the confusion and distress caused by this incident."

The erroneous report was caused by a computer malfunction at the broadcaster's studio in Essex, eastern England, the previous afternoon. A system designed for the "monarch’s passing procedures," which British broadcasters keep in place for emergencies, malfunctioned and triggered the related broadcast. During the broadcast, it was reportedly announced, "This is Radio Caroline. As an official mark of mourning for the passing of King Charles III, we are suspending regular programming until further notice."

King Charles III of the United Kingdom. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Peter Moore, the station manager, explained, "A false announcement was made regarding the passing of His Majesty the King," and added, "In accordance with protocol, regular programming was immediately suspended and a moment of silence for mourning was broadcast." He continued, "Once a staff member identified the issue, regular programming was restored and an official apology was aired."

At the time the false report was broadcast, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were attending a local folk music group performance during their visit to Northern Ireland. The broadcaster did not disclose how long the error persisted. However, some British media reported that the on-demand replay service on the website was suspended for about three hours, from 1:58 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., on the day of the incident.

Meanwhile, Radio Caroline was established in 1964 in protest against the BBC's broadcasting monopoly. In its early days, it operated illegally as a pirate radio station from ships off the British coast, which brought it notoriety. Since then, it has undergone various changes, including the enactment of the 1967 anti-pirate radio law, and ended its ship-based broadcasts in 1990. It is now operated with official authorization.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.