This Monday, March 18, rumors relating to the death of King Charles III circulated on social networks and in Russian media. The British embassy in Ukraine was forced to react.
Rumors of the death of King Charles III have angered the British embassy in Ukraine in recent hours. This false information, which circulated massively on social networks and in certain Russian media this Monday, March 18, ended up triggering an official statement from the British embassy in Ukraine.
“King Charles III of Great Britain has died at the age of 75, according to media reports,” reported the Russian news agency Sputnik, for example.
“We would like to inform you that the news concerning the death of King Charles III is false,” the embassy responded on the social network, in a message written in a bright red tone.
A surge of fake news
As noted by Daily Mail, the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti corrected its initial report, while admitting that it was based on “rumors”. “The Buckingham Palace press service has denied RIA Novosti rumors about the death of King Charles III,” said a message from the propaganda media.
This mass-relayed erroneous information arrives in a dual context. First, the statements of David Cameron, the British Foreign Minister, who spoke on the re-election of Vladimir Putin this Sunday evening. He had commented on elections that appeared neither “free” nor “fair”.
Where has Kate Middleton gone? How Kensington’s silence fuels rumors
Another point of context, the agitated rumors around the royal family, rather concentrated around the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. Communication hiccups continued around the crowned head, leaving the British media to imagine all possible scenarios.