A UK radio station has issued an official apology after mistakenly reporting the death of King Charles III.
According to Yonhap News, Radio Caroline, a broadcaster once known for its pirate radio roots, apologized via social media on May 20 for the false report regarding the king's death, which was also covered by AFP and The Guardian.
The error occurred due to a computer malfunction at the station's studio in Essex, England, the day before. UK broadcasters maintain a 'king's death protocol' system in preparation for national emergencies, which malfunctioned and mistakenly aired the announcement of King Charles III's death.
Radio Caroline stated on its social media, "We apologize for the confusion and distress caused by this incident."
Peter Moore, the station's manager, explained, "As the emergency procedure was activated, the announcement of His Majesty's passing was broadcast, leading to an immediate suspension of regular programming for a moment of silence in remembrance. Our staff recognized the issue and issued an official apology on air."
At the time of the false report, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were attending a folk music event in Northern Ireland.
While the station did not disclose the exact duration of the error, some UK media outlets reported that approximately three hours of the day's programming were unavailable for replay.
Founded in 1964, Radio Caroline emerged in response to the BBC's broadcasting monopoly and operated illegally from ships near the UK coast. Despite the implementation of the Pirate Broadcasting Act in 1967, the station has continued to operate, now with official licensing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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