Cancer-stricken King Charles is spotted leaving Windsor Castle and arriving at Clarence House in London after British embassy in Moscow was forced to furiously deny Russian media claims that monarch 'passed away unexpectedly'

King Charles has been spotted leaving Windsor Castle and arriving at Clarence House in London this morning, hours after Russian media claimed he had passed away.

His Majesty, 75, who is continuing cancer treatment, was seated in the back of a royal limousine as he departed his Berkshire home before arriving in the capital.

Yesterday, the British embassy in Moscow was forced to give an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died.

A host of Russian news sites and their associated social media accounts reported  that the King had died as a result of cancer complications, citing unnamed 'media' sources in an inexplicable stream of posts.

An image of a clearly fake statement from 'Buckingham Palace' reporting Charles' 'unexpected death' was circulated on social media.

It comes after the Princess of Wales was spotted looking 'happy, healthy and relaxed' with Prince William as the couple visited a farm shop near their Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor on Saturday. 

A royal source said the outing should squash wild conspiracy theories about her health.

King Charles III arriving at Clarence House this morning, after he was pictured leaving Windsor Castle

King Charles has been spotted leaving Windsor Castle this morning, hours after Russian media claimed he had passed away

His Majesty, 75, was seated in the back of the royal limousine as he departed his Berkshire home

Several prominent outlets reported the bogus news but it was not immediately clear whether they had made an error or whether Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine was directly behind it.

The sick stunt involving the monarch followed criticism in Britain and other Western countries of Vladimir Putin's election 'victory' in a 'rigged' presidential election.

The British embassy's Telegram channel posted a notice in Russian to stress the reports were fake.

'Reports about the death of King Charles III of Great Britain are fake,' said the announcement, shortly after the British Embassy in Ukraine issued a similar message.

Early outlets running the fake report were RIA, Sputnik, Readkovka and Mash - staunchly pro-Putin outlets - but all later corrected their stories.

Mash media outlet wrote: '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.'

But the outlet later stated: 'The fake news about the death of Charles III quickly spread and was just as quickly debunked.

'The King of Great Britain is alive and continues to go about his business. At least that's what Buckingham Palace says.'

Even Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joined the fray, posting: 'London looks pathetic.'

Yesterday, the British embassy in Moscow was forced to give an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died 

Ukraine's British embassy also gave an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died

The fake palace announcement was dated yesterday and said: 'The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon'

King Charles leaves Windsor Castle today in a royal limousine as he continues cancer treatment

Pro-Kremlin BAZA online media posted: 'The Russian media reported the death of British King Charles III with reference to a document allegedly published by Buckingham Palace.

'The screenshot of the message about the death of Charles III turned out to be fake.'

The fake palace announcement was dated today and said: 'The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.'

Independent outlet Meduza stated: '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 outlet RIA Novosti corrected its earlier report while admitting it was based on 'rumours', stating: 'The press service of Buckingham Palace denied RIA Novosti rumours about the death of King Charles III.

A tweet by Gazeta.ru perpetuated the rumours that Charles had died 

Early outlets running the fake report were RIA, Sputnik, Readkovka and Mash - staunchly pro-Putin outlets - but all later corrected their stories

The Kremlin-linked pro-war media outlet Readovka was one of the first Russian media sources to post a fake Buckingham Palace statement about the death of King Charles III

'He continues to conduct official and private affairs.

'Information about Charles' death appeared some time ago in many Russian sources. The basis for it was a certain message, the authorship of which was attributed to Buckingham Palace and which, apparently, turned out to be a fake.'

State news agency TASS reported that the story was fake.

The Kremlin's own newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, published by Putin's government, wrote: 'King Charles III continues to carry out work and private affairs, Buckingham Palace said.

'Previously, many Telegram channels published unverified and false information about the death of the monarch.'

MailOnline contacted Buckingham Palace for comment. 

On Saturday, the Princess of Wales was pictured by a royal fan leaving the Windsor Farm Shop with Prince William.

Kate has now been spotted four times in two weeks when Kensington Palace said maintained that she would not be seen in public before Easter after abdominal surgery in January. 

It has been reported that she may return to royal duties by walking to church on Easter Sunday.  

The latest sighting of her came amid a slew of online conspiracy theories about the state of her health.

One royal source told the Telegraph today: 'Finally everyone can calm down'.

With William on royal duties in Sheffield today, it also emerged that the Palace is accelerating plans for the Princess of Wales' return to full royal duties as soon as possible now she is clearly on the mend.

The earlier she can appear in public the quicker cruel rumours will be banished, an insider said, adding: 'The teams are working round the clock to devise the Princess of Wales's back-to-work plan after weeks of immense pressure'.

A witness who saw the couple told The Sun: 'After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.

'The kids weren't with them but it's such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.'

The outing came after she was spotted leaving Windsor with Prince William in a royal car last week, days after her release of an edited Mother's Day picture caused a global media storm.