Overview

• He formally opened the 736-bed Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick near Birmingham, meeting staff, patients and well-wishers.
• During conversations with patients including 85-year-old Jacqueline Page and cancer patient Matthew Shinda, he joked about aging and showed empathy.
• Asked about his condition, he replied "I'm not too bad," with the palace still withholding the cancer type despite ongoing treatment since February 2024.
• He spoke about the challenge of timely cancer detection and said care is improving, while recognizing the frustration many patients feel.
• The ceremony was postponed in March due to side effects from his therapy that led to a short hospital stay, and he offered an apology for the delay.