King Charles tells fellow cancer patient 'things don't work so well once you get past 70'

King Charles has joked about getting old, telling a fellow cancer patient that "bits don't work so well once you get past 70".

The monarch, who will celebrate his 77th birthday in November, was visiting a new hospital in the West Midlands when he made the comment.

It was the King's first engagement since holidaying at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with the extended royal family.

READ MORE: Queen Mary's wardrobe trick even 'commoners' can follow

The King is still undergoing regular treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, following his diagnosis in February last year.

He had surgery for a benign prostate enlargement and the cancer was detected soon after. But Buckingham Palace has confirmed the King was not diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The monarch has been carrying out a full diary of events since taking a brief break from public duties in the weeks after his diagnosis.

Speaking to patients on Wednesday, the monarch told one that he was feeling "not too bad" and that half the problem of the disease is "detecting it in time".

READ MORE: Meghan quietly shuts down online 'fashion influencer' shop

He added: "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."

Charles met Jacqueline Page, 85, from Birmingham who told the King she was "wearing out".

He responded: "Well, this is the terrible thing, as I'm discovering already, bits don't work so well do they once you get past 70".

Earlier in the day, the King toured the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Birmingham following the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.

READ MORE: Royal residence used for reality television show

He and Queen Camilla, and the rest of the royal family, are returning to duty after their stay at Balmoral Castle.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children, are now back in Windsor with the new school year beginning this week.

Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, are back at Lambrook School but it will be the children's final year there together. Prince George will move to a secondary school next year, with Eton among the frontrunners.

Prince William and Kate will be in London later today for a joint engagement at the Natural History Museum.

September will be a busy month for the royal family.

Next week, Prince Harry is back in London to attend the WellChild Awards on September 8, coinciding with the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's death.

There are reports he might see King Charles face to face for the first time in nearly two years.

View gallery

All the defining photos of the British royal family in 2025

The King last saw his youngest son in February soon after his cancer diagnosis was made public, with Harry flying to London for a brief meeting at Clarence House.

Prince Harry is expected to carry out other, yet to be announced, engagements while in the UK next week connected with his charities.

A reunion with his brother, Prince William, is unlikely.

In mid-September, the King and Queen will welcome US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania to Windsor Castle for a state visit.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, and other senior royals, are due to be included in the formalities.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.