A UK radio station has issued an apology to its audience after it made a royal mistake – announcing the death of King Charles. Radio Caroline, which transmits throughout the Midlands and South England, broadcast the incorrect message on Tuesday, according to one listener who posted online.
The listener reported that regular programming suddenly stopped before presenters declared that usual broadcasts had been halted due to the death of King Charles III, followed by God Save the King. The station then went silent for roughly 15 minutes, before an on-air apology was delivered when the hosts returned.
The blunder was attributed to a “computer error”, with Station Manager Peter Moore releasing an apologetic statement while explaining what triggered the erroneous broadcast.
In a statement shared on the radio station’s Facebook page, Moore wrote: “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 HRH the King had passed away.
“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.
“We apologise to HM the King and to our listeners for any distress caused.”
Listeners rushed to the comments section of the post to voice their relief that the news wasn’t accurate, while others showed compassion for the radio presenters who broadcast the false obituary, reports the Mirror.
One person remarked: “On the plus side, at least you know the procedure for this is working and in place!”, while another added: “I bet this made a few people stop in their tracks! It did give me a bit of a shock, but these mistakes can happen and I was glad to find out it wasn’t true.”
King Charles is fit and well, as he and Queen Camilla arrived in Northern Ireland yesterday for the start of a three-day visit. Charles and Camilla enjoyed an energetic beginning to his trip after landing on Tuesday, as they were welcomed with music, singing, dancing – and a taoscán of Titanic – in the capital, Belfast.
They met with organisers and performers to celebrate Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – the world’s biggest festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance – which is heading to the city this August for the first time.
Credit: Daily Star
