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King Charles jokes about growing old during hospital visit

King Charles III talks with patient Phillip Barnard during his visit to officially open the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham
King Charles III talks with patient Phillip Barnard during his visit to officially open the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham (Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire)
  • King Charles officially opened the new 736-bed Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, West Midlands.
  • During his visit, the King met patients, including 85-year-old Jacqueline Page, with whom he joked about old age and quipped, “the bits don’t work so well when you get past 70”.
  • He also spoke with 73-year-old prostate cancer patient Matthew Shinda, inquiring about his health and joking about whisky.
  • The King met Hernata Yonas, the first baby born at the hospital, and her parents, who arrived just 90 minutes after the maternity ward opened last October.
  • This hospital visit was the King's second engagement of the day in the West Midlands, following an earlier tour of the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Birmingham.
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