King Charles was recently diagnosed with cancer (Picture: Reuters)
The British Embassy in Russia was forced to announce that King Charles is very much alive after Russian media outlets reported he had died.
A screenshot of a mocked-up Buckingham Palace death announcement spread widely in Russia after several prominent outlets reported the news.
It’s not immediately clear if Vladimir Putin’s propaganda machine was behind the message, but the stunt followed criticism in Britain and the collective West over Putin’s ‘victory’ in the Russian elections this weekend.
The British embassy’s Telegram channel said: ‘Reports about the death of King Charles III of Great Britain are fake.’
The British Embassy in Ukraine issued a similar message to ensure no confusion.
Russian outlets which ran the fake report included RIA Novosti, Readkovka and Mash – staunchly pro-Putin outlets.
A fake statement from the palace went viral on social media, duping some journalists in Russia and beyond (Picture: Social media/e2w)
The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti ran a denial story (Picture: Ria Novosti/e2w)
The Kremlin-linked Readovka was one of the first Russian media sources to report the statement (Picture: Readovka/e2w)
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joined the fray, posting: ‘London looks pathetic.’
Russian Telegram news outlets had reported an image of a Union Jack flying at half-mast. Though this photograph was actually taken last year at the British Consulate General in Beyoğlu, Turkey, following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Mash said in a Telegram post this morning: ‘Britain’s King Charles III has died, Buckingham Palace reports. The son of Elizabeth II ascended the throne less than a year ago – the coronation took place on May 6, 2023. He was 75 years old.’
It updated to say ‘the message turned out to be fake’ while adding: ‘Let us remember that a few months ago he was diagnosed with cancer.’
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Other awkward corrections included the independent St Petersburg newspaper New Prospect, which went with the headline: ‘King Charles III died, and then he didn’t die.’
Meduza, another publication not affiliated with the Russian state, said: ‘A number of media and Telegram channels reported the death of the British King Charles III – with reference to a fake statement from Buckingham Palace.
’A screenshot of the statement, which became a news source, is provided, in particular, by the BAZA Telegram channel. This statement is not on the website or social networks of the royal family.’
Russian state news agencies Ria Novosti and Tass reported statements from Buckingham Palace saying: ‘We are pleased to confirm that the king continues to carry out his official duties.’
It’s the latest fake news to hit the royal family, as they continue to fight back against rumours regarding Princess Catherine of Wales’ recovery from surgery.
Metro opinion columnist Nicole Lampert wrote earlier this month: ‘It is not just rumours that fill the silence, but fear, too. With King Charles having been diagnosed with cancer, this is a nervous time for people who care about the monarchy.
‘The monarchy is meant to be there as a symbol of stability but even it seems completely shaken, chaotic.’
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