Radio Worker Wrongly Announces King Charles’ Death
A British radio worker mistakenly announced the death of King Charles III before panicking and fleeing the station after realizing the shocking message had gone out live over the airwaves.
The extraordinary mistake occurred during an afternoon broadcast of The Barry Marsh Show on Radio Caroline, a community station based in Essex, England. The incident unfolded on May 19 but received renewed attention Monday after Britain’s communications regulator published the results of its investigation.
According to Ofcom, a staff member was performing maintenance on the station’s main computer while the program’s presenter broadcast remotely. During that work, the employee discovered three prerecorded audio files prepared for the eventual death of King Charles.
The files were accompanied by strict instructions and were only supposed to be used after the monarch’s death had been officially confirmed. However, the employee reportedly played them “out of curiosity,” apparently not realizing they would immediately interrupt the station’s live broadcast.
Listeners suddenly heard a series of announcements claiming that King Charles had died and that Radio Caroline was suspending its normal programming as a mark of respect. One message falsely claimed that news organizations had already confirmed the monarch’s death.
The station then played Britain’s national anthem before repeating one of the false announcements. What followed was approximately 16 minutes of silence for listeners tuning in through DAB+, while those using the station’s AM service heard continuous backup music.
Once the employee realized the prerecorded messages had gone out live, the situation took another bizarre turn. Radio Caroline told Ofcom that the worker stopped the audio files, “panicked and left the premises.”
The presenter hosting the show remotely was initially unaware that his program had been knocked off the air. The station explained that he would not have known there was a problem unless he was actively monitoring Radio Caroline’s output over the internet.
The station’s director was also unable to catch the error immediately because he was on a telephone call when the false announcements aired. When he returned to monitoring the station, he noticed that continuous music had replaced the scheduled program and contacted an engineer.
The engineer had already begun investigating the disruption and eventually restored the regular broadcast. Staff then attempted to contact the presenter, but that process took additional time because he believed he was still on the air and was not watching his phone.
Roughly 30 minutes after the false death announcement, the presenter informed listeners that incorrect information had been broadcast due to a technical issue. He offered a brief apology but did not clearly explain that the station had falsely reported the King’s death.
Ofcom received two complaints and opened an investigation into whether Radio Caroline violated Britain’s broadcasting standards. In its August 10 ruling, the regulator found the station in breach of two rules covering accuracy and the prompt correction of major mistakes.
The regulator described the false report as a “very significant inaccuracy,” noting that information about the monarch’s health carries an exceptionally high level of public interest. Officials said the repeated announcements, the claim that the news media had confirmed the death and the playing of the national anthem all made the report appear credible.
Ofcom also determined that 30 minutes was too long to correct such a serious error. The regulator concluded that the eventual apology did not adequately acknowledge the nature of the original mistake.
Radio Caroline said the employee responsible was reprimanded and later apologized. The station also removed the sensitive recordings from the studio computer and placed them on an external drive that can only be accessed when needed.
The station, which is operated entirely by volunteers, previously apologized to King Charles and its listeners for any distress caused. Radio Caroline began as a pirate broadcaster in 1964, transmitting from ships positioned off the British coast before eventually becoming an established community station.
King Charles III is still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer discovered in early 2024. His treatment was reduced in 2026 after doctors reported encouraging progress, but the Palace has not said he is cancer-free or in remission.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
