A British broadcaster has generated strong confusion this Wednesday by erroneously announcing the supposed death of King Charles III during its regular programming, in a failure that was later attributed to a computer problem.
The incident occurred on Radio Caroline, based in Essex, when the music broadcast was suddenly interrupted to make way for a protocol message typical of situations of official mourning.
On air, the announcement was heard: "We are suspending our programming until further notice as a mark of respect following the death of His Majesty King Charles III", accompanied by the broadcast of the British anthem *God Save the King*, following the protocol for the monarch's death.
The message, which was repeated up to three times, lasted for about 16 minutes, during which the station broadcast solemn music before returning to its regular programming.
A technical failure behind the announcement
Following the uproar, the station's director apologized publicly and clarified that it was all due to a computer error that accidentally activated the mourning protocol, with no real event to justify the announcement.
The incident has reopened the debate on the automation of sensitive protocols in media and the risks of technical errors in broadcasting systems.
At the time of the event, King Charles III was on an official visit to Northern Ireland. The 77-year-old monarch continues under treatment after announcing in 2024 that he has cancer, although no additional details about his health have been offered.