British radio station has issued a formal apology after falsely broadcasting the death of King Charles III, following a computer error that accidentally triggered the United Kingdom's emergency "Death of a Monarch" broadcast protocol.

Radio Caroline confirmed that the false announcement was automatically aired after the emergency system — which British broadcasters keep on standby for the death of a reigning monarch — was mistakenly activated at the station's main studio. The broadcast was followed by a sudden period of silence before staff intervened to restore normal programming and issue an apology to both listeners and the Royal Family.

Station manager Peter Moore acknowledged the error, describing it as an unintended activation of the emergency protocol rather than any deliberate action on the part of station personnel.

The incident quickly drew widespread reactions across social media, particularly in light of ongoing public concern regarding the King's health. King Charles III publicly disclosed in 2024 that he was undergoing treatment for cancer, a revelation that had already heightened public sensitivity around any news concerning his wellbeing.

At the time of the erroneous broadcast, King Charles and Queen Camilla were actively carrying out official engagements in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where they were participating in visits connected to cultural and economic events — further underlining the gravity and poor timing of the blunder.

No official response from Buckingham Palace has been reported at the time of publication.

This story is developing. Further updates will follow as more details emerge.