King Charles Gives Rare Health Update and Cracks an Unexpected Joke About 'Dropping Dead'
Despite battling cancer for the past year, King Charles has shown no signs of slowing down, bravely continuing his royal engagements and fulfilling his duty to the Crown. The monarch has also had a good sense of humor about his ageing and frailty, often joking with patients during public visits. In the same spirit, on November 5, he visited the Chatfield Health Care in Battersea, where he met with veterans who had served the country. There, he offered a rare update on his many sporting injuries and cracked a wry joke about 'dropping dead.'
The King's visit saw him interact with ex-army personnel, who were using the facility's special services for veterans. He met veteran David Wiggins, whose left arm was fractured and was in a cast from a bike accident in Richmond Park. Curious, Charles asked, "Are they keeping that under control? I'm so glad," In response, Wiggins told the King how he had three plates in his arm. Charles subsequently quipped, "I've got endless plates and screws in my arm as well. All that's left of you when you drop dead is 'Made in Switzerland.'" He was likely referring to his painful arm injury in 1990 during a polo match when he fell from a horse.
During his prime years, Charles suffered multiple sports-related injuries. His scariest one came in 1990, and the public learnt about it when he left the Cirencester Hospital in a cast. According to HELLO!, at the time, NHS nurse Gail Burbage, who treated the then-Prince, revealed that he underwent a three-hour operation. She said, "He [Charles] was personable, chatty – the ideal patient. Of course, we had certain protocols we had to follow, but he kept it all light-hearted and made it easy for us." Similarly, ten years later, the future King fractured his shoulder when he fell off a horse during a fox hunt. According to a Palace spokesperson, his horse made an unexpected jump during a ride in Derbyshire when he was thrown off the ground.
Regardless of his many injuries, the monarch's love for sports did not fade away. Best known for his passion for polo, he played competitively for over 40 years before retiring in 2005 due to numerous injuries. He often competed in charity and royal matches, including the Queen's Cup and Royal Windsor Polo Cup. Beyond polo, the King enjoys fishing, skiing, hiking, hunting, gardening, and carriage driving. He has also experimented with cricket and rugby in his youth.
As mentioned above, his recent visit to Chatfield Health Care isn't the only time he's spoken about his health. During a visit to Midland Metropolitan Hospital in September, he met fellow prostate cancer patient Matthew Shinda, who asked him about his cancer recovery and ongoing treatment. Charles positively replied, "I'm not too bad...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. I am sorry about that; it's so frustrating."