Fake announcement incites rumors of King Charles’ death

Context

Several users on social media are claiming that King Charles III of the U.K. has died after a fake communiqué was shared online. 

"The following announcement is made by royal communications. The king passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon," said the communiqué that was shared by several users on Facebook and elsewhere. 

Media outlets, including the Guardian, Huffington Post, and France24, have sourced the fake communiqué to Russian social media accounts, though the exact origin remains unknown.  

The communiqué was made to resemble the announcement that was hung on the gates outside Buckingham Palace when Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022. 

The fake announcement was seemingly modeled after the one hung on the gates of Buckingham Palace to announce the death of Queen Elizabeth II. (Source: Us Weekly/Facebook/Screenshots)

However, Buckingham Palace has assured that the King is still alive, and several pictures from the last couple of days show him up and about. 

In fact

After the greatly exaggerated rumor of King Charles' death had circulated online and in Russian media on March 18, Buckingham Palace commented to Russian news agency Tass, "We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business."

The British embassies in Russia and Ukraine also denied the rumors. In a post on its official X account, the embassy of Ukraine wrote: "All news about King Charles III death is fake." The embassy in Russia posted a similar message in Russian to its Telegram channel. 

Several images of the King have appeared after the rumor spread. On March 19, pictures showed Charles leaving Windsor Castle and hosting Korean War veterans at Buckingham Palace.

On Thursday, March 21, one picture showed the King in a car leaving Buckingham Palace. Several other pictures showed him carrying out diplomatic audiences at the Palace, meeting the high commissioner for the United Republic of Tanzania, Mbelwa Kairuki, and the high commissioner for the Republic of Singapore, Ng Teck Hean.

Several images show King Charles meeting with representatives of Tanzania and Singapore in Buckingham Palace on March 21. (Source: Getty Images/Screenshot)

Also on Thursday, Queen Camilla, King Charles' wife, told well-wishers during her trip to Northern Ireland that the King is "doing very well."

Back in February, the 75-year-old King was diagnosed with cancer that he is currently undergoing treatment for.  

The verdict

Buckingham Palace and the British Embassy in Ukraine have denied the rumors of King Charles' death. The King has been pictured several times since the rumor of his death spread online on March 18. Therefore, we have marked this claim as false.