If King Charles III had been listening to British radio station Radio Caroline yesterday, he’d have gotten a nasty surprise. Midway through 4 Non Blondes’ classic 90s hit ‘What’s Up’, Linda Perry’s soaring vocals were interrupted by a startling announcement:
“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.”
🚨🇬🇧 NEW: The moment Radio Caroline accidentally announced the death of King Charles live on air
— Politics Global (@PolitlcsGlobal) May 20, 2026
King Charles has not passed away pic.twitter.com/RpBzoCmcFa
This would have been news to Charles, who is very much still in the world of the living.
The announcement continued to hammer the point home, firmly telling listeners, “His Majesty King Charles III has passed away”, that suitably mournful music would be played, and that “the news media has confirmed that His Majesty King Charles III has passed away”.
I seem to remember this happening with Philip?
— N.L (@n_lgn22) May 20, 2026
Appropriate that this happened on Radio “Caroline”! History buffs, you know what I’m talking about.
This is, to use the parlance of the British media, ‘something of an oopsie’. Station manager Peter Moore quickly explained that this was the result of a “computer error” and that he’s very, very sorry:
“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 HM the King had passed away.
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.”
During the broadcast, Charles was very much alive, watching a folk group in Northern Ireland. But, to be fair, to Radio Caroline, they probably should have this message on standby. Charles is 77 and still receiving cancer treatment, though his current condition doesn’t appear to be immediately life-threatening.
If he’s anything like his mom, it could be another two decades before Charles shuffles off this mortal coil and King William V and Queen Catherine assume the throne. Even so, best to keep these kinds of messages ready to go, but perhaps at Radio Caroline, the big red “The King is Dead!” button should be under glass so they don’t accidentally press it again.
