King Charles III is definitely alive and well. However, per CNN, a UK radio station called Radio Caroline reportedly made a big gaffe on Tuesday, May 19. The outlet mistakenly announced that the 77-year-old monarch had died! How could that have happened? The truth is that it was an honest, unintended, but very embarrassing technical mistake. It's unclear if King Charles III was aware that news of his "passing" was broadcast.
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The Radio Station Manager Apologized and Explained
Peter Moore, manager of Radio Caroline, issued a statement on
Facebook. He probably wanted to halt any confusion about King Charles III's well-being and also quickly make amends for the foul-up. The statement, captioned "Apology," read like this. "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 (19 May), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away."Furthermore, Moore added, "Radio Caroline then fell silent as would be required, which alerted us to restore programming and issue an on-air apology. Caroline has been pleased to broadcast Her Majesty the Queen's, and now the King's, Christmas Message and we hope to do so for many years to come."
He ended with this line in italics. "We apologize to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused."
The Public Seemed To Shrug Off the Error
Judging by the comments people left on social media, they laughed off the station's mistake about King Charles III's demise.
Wrote one, "Non[e] of us go through life without making the odd mistake."
Noted another, "It was a shock, but after telling my wife and neighbours I realised it was a mistake - and perhaps it was the relief, but then the laughter set in...."
A third person offered this practical perspective. "I was on the Ross Revenge on 9th May and saw the instructions for death of a monarch on the wall in the studio. At least you know it works."
From someone else came this. "I heard this on my car stereo yesterday as I was just leaving work and for a moment I had to ask myself whether it was true or just a sick joke. Thankfully it was neither but instead a simple technical error."
