Prince William vows to send Camilla out of royal palace 4 lying about Charles health when he’s King
On a Monday afternoon, chaos erupted in the Russian media as rumors spread that King Charles III had died. The false report quickly gained traction, fueled by disinformation tactics commonly used by Kremlin-affiliated channels. The rumor originated on a Telegram channel associated with *Vedomosti* (VTI), once a respected Russian business newspaper, and soon went viral across various platforms.
The misleading post featured a photograph of King Charles in a stylized military uniform, along with the sensational headline “Charles III of the British has passed away.” This claim was amplified by channels like Redova, a Kremlin-supporting Telegram channel with over 2.35 million subscribers, which falsely attributed the news to “Royal Communications” and claimed the King had “died suddenly” on March 18th, 2024.
As the disinformation spread, various versions of the story emerged. One version bizarrely named “King Bob the Yellow Minion” as Charles’s successor, further muddying the waters. The rumor spread beyond Russia, reaching Ukraine, where a prominent TV station reposted the news, and even as far as Tajikistan, where Asia-Plus, the region’s largest independent news outlet, ran a piece on the false report.
The situation grew increasingly suspicious as more outlets, including *Gazeta.ru*, a major Russian news website, published the unverified report, only to later amend their coverage with a disclaimer, noting that no official confirmation had come from British sources. The confusion prompted speculation that Buckingham Palace’s website might have been hacked, as the misinformation continued to circulate widely.
Adding to the disarray, a pro-Kremlin channel even photoshopped King Charles’s head onto a recent photo of the Princess of Wales, which further fueled the spread of the fake news. In response, Buckingham Palace released an official photograph of King Charles III to quell the rumors, emphasizing that the King was alive and continuing his official duties.
The Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson also got involved, sharing the doctored image and mocking the situation by stating that “London looks pathetic.” Ultimately, *TASS*, the Russian state news agency, corrected the record by confirming that King Charles III was still performing his royal duties and attending private events, effectively putting an end to the unfounded rumors.
This incident highlights the power and reach of disinformation, especially when deployed by state-affiliated channels. It also underscores the importance of verifying information through credible sources, particularly in an era where fake news can spread rapidly across borders and media platforms.
