 "The British Embassy in Ukraine released a statement declaring that King Charles is alive following a rush of false reports from Russian media Image Courtesy Reuters")
Following reports in Russian media that King Charles had passed away, the British Embassy in Ukraine and Buckingham Palace were compelled to declare that the monarch was very much alive.
The Guardian claims that the rumor gained widespread attention online after being disseminated on a Telegram channel affiliated with Vedomosti, one of the most reputable newspapers in Russia. The words “British King Charles III has died” were written next to a picture of King Charles wearing a ceremonial military outfit. The story soon went widespread on Russian social media, raising doubts and creating panic before being swiftly disproved.
At first, a document was posted next to a picture of King Charles on Russian internet channels, such as Readovka, a Telegram group that supports the Kremlin.
“The following announcement is made by royal communications,” it stated. “The king unexpectedly passed away yesterday afternoon,” the 18 March 2024 text said.
Nevertheless, the British Embassy in Ukraine released a statement declaring that King Charles is alive following a rush of false reports from Russian media. The embassy wrote: “News about King Charles III death is fake” in both Ukrainian and English.
In a further development, Buckingham Palace rejected the report as well. The Palace added, “We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business,” in a statement to the state-run TASS news agency in Russia.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNotably, some major pro-Kremlin Telegram channels and mainstream Russian news sources reported incorrectly that King Charles had passed away. They did, however, eventually revise their accounts.
The 75-year-old British king has been receiving cancer treatment at the time of the rumours of his demise. It also coincides with Kate Middleton, the wife of Prince William, continuing to stoke rumors about her well-being after undergoing stomach surgery in January.
It all began with the uproar caused by the Palace’s official release of altered images of Kate. After multiple news organizations reported that the image was altered, they later issued an order to destroy it. Since undergoing stomach surgery on January 16 to treat an undisclosed but non-cancerous ailment, Kate Middleton has not been sighted in public.
She hasn’t been seen since, with the exception of a few grainy photos, and in recent weeks, rumors and conjecture regarding her condition have taken the world by storm on social media.