UMVA has learned that a shocking incident occurred at a popular British radio station, where a mistaken announcement was broadcast declaring the death of King Charles.
The alarming message was aired on Radio Caroline, a station with a rich history dating back to 1964 as a pirate radio station, before later becoming a licensed broadcaster. The station is known for playing music from the 1960s to the present day.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the radio station accidentally aired a bulletin stating that the King had passed away, before playing a rendition of the national anthem, God Save The King. The station quickly fell silent, alerting staff to restore programming and issue an on-air apology.
The incident was attributed to a 'computer error' that triggered the 'Death of a Monarch' procedure, which all UK stations hold in readiness. Radio Caroline's station manager, Peter Moore, issued a statement apologizing for the distress caused to the King and listeners.
The statement expressed relief that the situation was quickly rectified and confirmed that the station has a history of broadcasting the monarch's Christmas message. Radio Caroline boasts two spin-off channels and offers tours of its former pirate radio ship, Ross Revenge.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the incident has raised questions about the robustness of emergency broadcasting procedures, despite the swift response from Radio Caroline to correct the mistake. The station's legacy as a pioneering pirate radio station continues to be celebrated by fans.
