King Charles has shared a rare and candid update on his ongoing cancer battle while meeting with fellow patients during a royal engagement in England.
The 76-year-old monarch visited Midland Metropolitan University Hospital on Wednesday to officially open the new medical center, where he spent time speaking with doctors, volunteers, and cancer patients. It’s one of the few occasions Charles has openly discussed his health since his diagnosis was revealed last year.
When asked by 73-year-old patient Matthew Shinda how he was feeling more than a year after his diagnosis, the king replied with quiet optimism: “I’m not too bad.” He went on to empathize deeply with Shinda’s own battle, saying, “I’m very sorry about that, it’s so frustrating. Half the problem is detecting it in time.”
Charles also praised recent medical advances, adding, “The great thing, I think, is they’re getting better and better at dealing with these things. The trouble is there’s always hope down the road.”
During another conversation with 85-year-old patient Jacqueline Page, who admitted she was “wearing out,” the king injected a touch of humor despite the gravity of his situation. “I know, this is the terrible thing, as I am discovering already,” he quipped. “The bits don’t work so well when you get past 70.”
Charles, who turns 77 in November, has remained tight-lipped about the exact type of cancer he is battling but has spoken openly about the emotional and physical toll treatment has taken. Back in April, he penned a heartfelt letter thanking those who support cancer patients and their loved ones, writing that his own diagnosis has “reinforced” his belief that “the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.”
The monarch’s diagnosis was revealed in January 2024 after a procedure for an enlarged prostate led doctors to discover “a separate issue of concern” that required treatment. Buckingham Palace later confirmed it was not prostate cancer.
Despite undergoing weekly treatments and a brief hospitalization in March due to side effects, Charles has continued to balance his health battle with royal duties — finding hope, humor, and strength in the face of uncertainty.