Radio station apologises after mistakenly announcing death of King Charles
Updated . First published at
A radio station in the UK was forced to issue a swift apology after it mistakenly announced King Charles III had died.
A computer malfunction caused the announcement to be made in error on Tuesday afternoon, officials at Radio Caroline, in Essex, said.
The broadcast said: "This is Radio Caroline. We have suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of formal respect following the passing of his Majesty King Charles III.
King Charles was in Northern Ireland when a UK radio station mistakenly broadcast that the monarch had died. Getty
"This is Radio Caroline. His Majesty King Charles III has passed away. As a mark of respect we will now be playing suitable continuous music until further notice.
"The news media has confirmed that his Majesty King Charles III has passed away. Consequently as a mark of respect, Radio Caroline is suspending its normal programmes."
God Save The King, the UK national anthem, was then broadcast.
Station manager Peter Moore later wrote on Facebook: "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 (May 19), mistakenly announcing that HM the King had passed away.
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The King and Queen spent the second day of their Northern Ireland tour by hosting a garden party at Hillsborough Castle and attending community events. Getty
"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."
The King, who is very much alive, was in Northern Ireland at the time with Queen Camilla for their annual visit to the country.
The monarch's good spirits were on show on Wednesday when he had an unexpected wardrobe malfunction through no fault of his own during a visit to a seaside town on the second day of the Northern Island tour.
The 77-year-old was meeting crowds when a seagull pooed on his suit jacket.
But the monarch laughed it off, refusing an offer of an overcoat to cover up the smear.
"It's fine," the King told a member of the crowd.
A seagull left its mark on King Charles' jacket when he visited the seaside town of Newcastle in Northern Ireland on Wednesday. Nine
"At least it didn't land on my head!"
The monarch carried on with business, the bird's mess clearly visible on his grey jacket.
The King was in Newcastle, County Down, to highlight local projects including a community-run cinema.
He continued to wear the dirty jacket when meeting volunteers at The Pantry Foodbank.
The monarch laughed off the incident and refused to wear an overcoat to cover it up. Nine
During their stay, the King and Queen are based at Hillsborough Castle, the royal family's official residence in Northern Ireland.
By the time the monarch arrived for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle, the King had changed into a clean suit.
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