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A British radio station was forced to apologise after it accidentally announced the death of King Charles.
Radio Caroline’s regular broadcasting was interrupted in the middle of the song What’s Up? By the band 4 Non Blondes on Tuesday when the blunder was made.
The announcement said: ‘This is Radio Caroline. We have suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III.
‘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.’
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The radio station went on to say the ‘news media’ had confirmed the king’s death before broadcasting a rendition of God Save The King.
Radio Caroline later apologised as the king is, in fact, alive and well.
In a statement posted to Facebook, station manager Peter Moore said the bulletin was accidentally aired due to a ‘computer error’.
What is Radio Caroline?
Radio Caroline was founded as a pirate radio station in 1964 and was initially broadcast from international waters.
It is part of a legacy of stations set up to challenge the BBC’s monopoly on British radio and bring contemporary pop and rock music to living rooms across the country.
It is now a licensed station and can be listened to online and, in some parts of the UK, on 648 kHz AM or DAB+, 24 hours a day.
The station broadcasts music released from the 1960s to the present day and now boasts two spin-off channels – Radio Caroline Flashback, playing throwback pop from the 60s and 70s, and Radio Caroline North, available in the north of England.
Fans can still take a tour of the former pirate radio ship, Ross Revenge, which is moored on River Blackwater in Essex.
The statement read: ‘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.
‘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.’