King Charles’ Death Report Mistakenly Airs on Radio Station After Staffer Played Announcement ‘Out of Curiosity’

A British radio station mistakenly broadcast a pre-recorded announcement claiming that King Charles III had died, after a staff member played the files “out of curiosity,” according to findings from the UK’s broadcasting regulator.

The incident occurred on May 19, 2026, during Radio Caroline’s Barry Marsh Show. The station was broadcasting a live programme when the pre-recorded material was unexpectedly played, interrupting the normal broadcast.

False Announcement Was Broadcast

The recordings contained announcements stating that the King had died and that normal programming had been suspended as a mark of respect. The broadcast was also followed by the playing of the UK national anthem.

The incident caused confusion among listeners before the station eventually returned to normal programming. Around 16 minutes of silence was also heard on the broadcast. A correction and apology were made approximately 30 minutes after the false announcement aired.

Staff Member Played Files Out of Curiosity

According to Ofcom’s findings, the staff member was carrying out routine computer maintenance when they accessed the pre-recorded files.

The files had been prepared in advance for use in the event of the King’s death. The employee reportedly played them “out of curiosity” without realizing that doing so would interrupt the live programme and put the recordings on air.

Radio Caroline subsequently treated the incident as a serious breach and reprimanded the staff member. The station also strengthened its procedures and moved the sensitive obituary files away from the studio computer system.

Ofcom Finds Radio Caroline in Breach

The UK media regulator Ofcom found that Radio Caroline had breached broadcasting rules concerning accuracy in news reporting and the requirement to correct significant mistakes promptly.

The regulator highlighted the seriousness of falsely reporting the death of a reigning monarch and the delay before the broadcast was corrected. Two complaints were made to Ofcom following the incident.

King Charles Was Not Dead

Despite the broadcast, King Charles III had not died. The announcement was entirely the result of an accidental broadcast of pre-recorded material.

The incident has since attracted widespread attention because of the unusual circumstances behind the mistake and the staff member’s decision to play the files simply out of curiosity.

Radio Caroline has since taken steps to prevent similar material from being accidentally broadcast again.

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