King Charles returned to duty after his Balmoral break today by visiting Birmingham to open the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital where he met staff and patients
King Charles visits patients at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital
The King delivered a message of hope to a cancer patient and gave an update about his own health while visiting a hospital today.
Charles returned to royal duties following his Balmoral break by travelling to Birmingham, where he visited the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. Crowds of staff, patients, and volunteers gathered to welcome Charles as he officially opened the 736-bed facility in Smethwick.
There, the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, met both patients and staff in the hospital’s new enclosed winter garden. During the engagement, he met with one patient, Matthew Shinda, 73, from Oldbury, who told Charles about his prostate cancer diagnosis.
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Matthew told the King: “I’ve got what you’ve got”, before revealing: “Last stage. I could go today, I could go tomorrow.”
The King has been undergoing cancer treatment since January last year. He went to hospital for an enlarged prostate when doctors discovered he had cancer. Buckingham Palace has not confirmed what type of cancer Charles has, but it is understood not to be prostate.
The King asked how long Matthew had been there and asked: “Have they been giving you all the right treatment? Marvellous nurses.” And he joked that “you have to go up endless lifts to go anywhere” in the building.
Matthew said to the King: “It’s nice to see that you’re recovering well.” The King replied: “I’m not too bad thank you very much.” The patient then told him: “I have the same disease. It’s prostate. Last stage. I could go today, tomorrow.”
Charles said: “Half the problem is detecting it, isn’t it, in time.” Matthew then explained how he had been diagnosed when doctors found a previously undiscovered lump.
The King added: “As long as they’re making you comfortable. Matthew said: “Of course. That’s one of the priorities. Making me comfortable.
Charles said: “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. We’re probably about the same age are we?”
Matthew said the King was about one year older, which Charles laughed at. He then said he would like a drink, and told the King he likes anything “as long as it’s nice”. Charles joked he should have brought a whisky, saying: “It’s supposed to be very good for the heart”.
The King also asked about his daughters and grandchildren, and said he was “lucky” to have two daughters who were taking turns to come and visit. Matthew said after the visit: “I was elated. He showed concern.”
Earlier, Charles met Jacqueline Page, 85, who lives in Great Barr with her husband Jeff, 82. Her father met the then Prince Charles when he came to Birmingham in 1978. Charles said: “I do hope this isn’t causing too much interruption. “
Jacqueline told him: “Lovely to meet you. I wish it was in better circumstances.” Charles told her: “I hope you’re being looked after.” She said: “I’m having the best attention, I can assure you.”
Jacqueline joked: “I’m wearing out.” And Charles joked in response: “Well this is the terrible thing, as I’m discovering already, bits don’t work so well do they once you get past 70.”
He asked Jeff how he was coping at home, and he asked Jacqueline about her treatment. They told him that they had been married 40 years.
And Jacuqeline told him: “I’ve met you before. Perry Barr stadium. You came in a helicopter and you got out of the helicopter and you walked straight towards my parents.” He joked: “That was a bit of luck, wasn’t it?”
She said: “They shook hands with you. I didn’t get a look in, so I’m so delighted you’re talking to me today.”
Charles said: “It was a wonderful old helicopter I seem to remember. I used to fly it. Because I’d flown them in the Navy. I left the Navy in 1976 but I could still remember how to fly it. That was the great thing. I’m so glad I’ve got to meet you.”
The King later met Hernata Yonas, who was the first baby born in the hospital. He asked mum Semhar Tesfu and dad Yonas Kflu about the hospital. Hernata arrived at 8.48am – just over 90 minutes after the maternity department opened its doors.
Yonas said it was “great” that the King showed interest. Charles also met Elsie Kudozia, 37, and baby Elyanna, who was born in the hospital on Monday. Asked how she felt after speaking to the King, Elsie said: “I can’t explain it. It’s very nice.”
There were huge cheers from the crowds as he greeted them and others who worked at the hospital. And just before Charles unveiled a plaque, ex NHS chief and chairman of the hospital Sir David Nicholson told the crowd: “Your Majesty, guests, colleagues, and friends.
“It is a tremendous honour to stand before you today on this momentous occasion. This is a day of immense pride, not just for those of us who have been part of this project from its inception, but for the entire community who will benefit from this world-class facility for generations to come.
“Your Majesty, it is with the deepest gratitude and immense pride that we welcome you here today to officially open Midland Metropolitan University Hospital.”
Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust provides community, hospital, and general practice-based care, serving a population of 750,000 local people. Midland Metropolitan University Hospital opened its doors on Sunday, October 6, 2024 and is one of the biggest hospitals to open in England in the last decade.
The hospital visit was the King’s second engagement of the day in the West Midlands, as he earlier toured the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Birmingham following the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman.
The King viewed historic items in the library and the cardinal’s personal effects in his room, which has remained untouched since his death in 1890.