Radio Caroline in Essex, a former British pirate radio station, has issued an apology for “any distress caused,” saying a computer error at its main studio led to the mistaken announcement of the death of King Charles III.
In a post on social media, station manager Peter Moore said the error triggered the death of a monarch procedure, “which all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require.”
“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,” Peter Moore added.
The incident occurred on the first day of the King and Queen’s trip to Northern Ireland, where they performed with a folk group, watched dancers, and sipped Irish whiskey in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
Though the post did not specify when the error was discovered, domestic news agency Press Association reported that playback of the station’s May 19 broadcast between 1:58 pm and 5:00 pm was unavailable on its website as of the afternoon of May 20.
Radio Caroline was established in 1964, and operated on ships off the English coast.
After legislation in 1967, which forced many pirate broadcasters to close, it continued periodically before ending offshore broadcasts in 1990.
