The septuagenarian King Charles visiting a Birmingham heart hospital just last week. On the trip, he told us how much he was enjoying continuing to recover from cancer. Earlier in February 2024, he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer. This visit followed a cancelled trip in March, when he was unable to travel because of short-term treatment-related side effects.
On his first trip to the new 736-bed centre in Smethwick, King Charles met with staff, patients and volunteers. Though almost always on the go, he took time to reassure patients, and those like 85-year-old Jacqueline Page of Great Barr. Their rapport involved playful banter as well, with King Charles getting a laugh at health’s expense. When Page said she was “wearing out,” the King quietly said, “I can understand.”
King Charles at 73-year-old Matthew Shinda, a cancer patient at the New York Plaza Hotel. In answer to Shinda’s question about the King’s health, King Charles responded, “It’s not all that bad.” This exchange reminded me of the warmth and camaraderie that exists in spaces full of people living with similar health issues.
The late King’s visit to the Oratory of St. Philip Neri went in this direction during his official tour. There, he viewed important historic artifacts related to Cardinal John Henry Newman. Newman was made a cardinal in 1879 and was canonized at the Vatican in 2019. He remained at the Oratory until his death in 1890. King Charles attended Newman’s canonization ceremony as Prince of Wales.
The monarch’s recent visit to Birmingham was especially important. Not only did the visit shift the focus to his health, it represented a promise kept after he had to cancel a previous presentation while undergoing treatment. The temporary side effects required a short period of hospital observation, underscoring the King’s commitment to public service even amid personal health struggles.
Reflecting on the challenges of aging and health, King Charles shared, “I know, this is the terrible thing, as I am discovering already. The bits don’t work so well when you get past 70.” This honest admission strikes a chord with all of us as it highlights the inevitable truths that come with aging.
