King Charles made a wry joke about his health this afternoon amid reports his cancer treatment will continue into next year.
The King, 76, joked he was ‘still alive’ during a visit to a community event at Waltham Forest Town Hall in Walthamstow when asked how he was.
Harvinder Rattan, Sikh faith representative, said: ‘Your Majesty, good morning, how are you?’
The King, 76, replied, jokingly: ‘I’m still alive.’
It comes as it was confirmed the king’s cancer treatment will be ongoing in the New Year, although aides stressed that doctors were pleased with his progress.
Elsewhere in the visit, the King was surprised by a woman he first met more than 50 years ago in Japan.
The Monarch was in his early 20s when he first met and shook hands with Caroline Akuffo in 1970, nearly 6,000 miles from London.
But as Charles and Queen Camilla, 77, stepped out in east London this afternoon, he was reunited with a delighted Caroline, who showed him a black and white photograph of their first meeting.
The image shows a young Caroline shaking hands with Charles, who would have been around 21 years old at the time.
The then-Prince of Wales met Caroline during his visit to Japan, where he toured his Japanese World Expo in Osaka.
Charles has since been very fond of the country and has since visited four times during his life.
He recently welcomed Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to London in June for a three-day visit and even held a glitzy state banquet for the pair.
Caroline looked ecstatic as she spoke to King Charles and pointed to the picture of them together.
The royal looked deep in thought as he touched the image, seemingly thinking back to sweet memory.
Elsewhere, the king was captured making a wry comment about his health in a quip which illustrated his dry sense of humour.
Today’s engagement was designed to highlight community cohesion in the UK.
Thousands of residents in Waltham Forest held a peaceful anti-racism protest following the nationwide disorder after the stabbing of three children at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday activity in Southport in July.
Charles and Camilla met locals at a reception where refreshments were provided by Havens Café, whose owner Usman Khalid is a former asylum seeker who now trains refugees to be baristas.
The King spoke to Usman and said his coffee ‘looks good.’
Camilla handed over two bags of Buckingham Palace teddy bears to community group Citizens UK who will donate the toys to local children.
George Gaillett, community organiser at Citizens UK, said afterwards: ‘The Queen said ‘we hope you can distribute this and they can go to the right people’.’
Alexandra Martinelli-Kinmouth, of charity The Together Space, made the King a cup of tea.
She said afterwards: ‘I said to him I hope it’s not too cold and spoke about my charity.
‘He smiled and said he hoped it had some honey in, which it did.’
The King and Queen also donated food to Tracey Rogers, of Highams Park Hub, to be handed out at a food bank.
The bags of Waitrose Duchy Originals produce was brought by staff before the couple arrived.
Tracey said afterwards: ‘I went to the Coronation and told him the atmosphere was absolutely phenomenal.’
Monwara Ali, CEO of Waltham Forest Community Hub, gave the King a high-five.
She said afterwards: ‘It’s important that our generation, particularly those in leadership roles, need to engage with the younger generation; it’s part of our succession plan.
‘He was happy to do it and the fact he agreed was amazing.’
Outside, the King enjoyed a rendition by A Little Choir of Joy, a children’s choir made up of 8 to 12 year-olds from across schools in the borough.
He also went to speak to the youngsters and said: ‘I hope you have a Happy Christmas. And also to your poor teachers.’
The King greeted dozens of well-wishers who turned out while the Queen – who is still suffering from the aftereffects of pneumonia – waited in the car as it was too cold.
Caroline Akuffo, 77, showed the King a black and white photo she had kept framed on her wall from a meeting in Osaka, Japan, in 1970.
She said: ‘It was a trade fair. He came to the pavilion and I remember shaking his hands and they were so soft it was like holding cotton wool.
‘He was so happy to see the photo and said I was wearing a lovely dress.’
Waltham Forest was officially recognised as a Borough of Sanctuary by the national charity City of Sanctuary in December 2023.
Following the engagement the King and Queen were expected to head off to Sandringham to begin the Royal Family’s Christmas break.
