CBS News forced to issue correction after King Charles blunder as he's mistaken for deceased monarch
Social media users quickly reactedCBS News has been forced to issue a correction after mistaking King Charles for a deceased monarch.
This week, the American channel shared a social media post that addressed the king’s cooperation with police regarding the scandal surrounding his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
However, the original X post – that has now been deleted – referred to Charles as King Charles II, not the third.
CBS News makes King Charles blunder
CBS News’ awkward social media blunder saw the American broadcaster name King Charles III as King Charles II, who died over 300 years ago.
From 1660 to 1685, King Charles II reigned in England, Scotland, and Ireland. This was known as the Restoration Era. King Charles II died on February 6, 1685, after converting to Catholicism on his deathbed.
The blunder remained visible online for more than 20 hours before CBS News removed the original and issued a correction.
A post on X read: “Editor’s Note: A previous version of this post erroneously referred to King Charles II. It has been corrected and the original post deleted.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this post erroneously referred to King Charles II. It has been corrected and the original post deleted.
— CBS News (@CBSNews) February 11, 2026
Fans react to awkward mix-up
However, plenty of people had already seen the blunder. They quickly reacted to CBS’ awkward historical mix-up.
One person mocked on X: “Didn’t expect our late king, Charles II, to have an opinion on the Epstein scandal. But fair play to him for getting in touch and to CBS News for securing the interview.”
UK commentator Rupert Myers also quipped that “the BBC’s official US broadcast partner is now doing journalism by ouija board (Charles II died in 1685)”.
A third penned: “You know how Home Alone and Home Alone 2 were both amazing and had the same basic cast, then a few years later they made Home Alone 3 with NONE of the same people and it was a totally different movie? That’s Charles I & II and then Charles III.”
Andrew scandal
Amid the ongoing scrutiny mounting against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Charles issued a statement earlier this week about his brother via the palace.
In January, the US Department of Justice released more than three million files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his crimes. Within these files, images appeared to show Andrew kneeling on all fours over an unidentified female lying on the ground. No context has been supplied for the images. It’s also unclear when and where they were taken.
Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Being named or pictured among the Epstein files is not an indication of wrongdoing.
What did Buckingham Palace say?
Andrew has also faced allegations of sexual assault. The late Virginia Giuffre alleged she was made to have sex with Andrew on three separate occasions when she was 17 after being trafficked by Epstein.
Andrew has always vehemently denied the allegations against him. The royal reached an out-of-court financial settlement with Ms Giuffre in 2022. It contained no admission of liability.
Responding to the recent Andrew scandal, a statement from Buckingham Palace was released this week.
It read: “The king has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s conduct.
“While the specific claims in question are for Mr Mountbatten-Windsor to address, if we are approached by Thames Valley Police we stand ready to support them as you would expect.
“As was previously stated, Their Majesties’ thoughts and sympathies have been, and remain with, the victims of any and all forms of abuse.”
Read more: ‘Fine line’ King Charles is ‘grappling with’ amid Andrew and Epstein scandal
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