The King made a joke about ageing as he officially opened Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in the West Midlands. Charles, 76, met staff, patients and volunteers at the 736-bed facility in Smethwick, including a cancer patient he comforted at his bedside.The monarch visited one of the hospital's acute elderly care wards, where he met 85-year-old patient Jacqueline Page, from Great Barr.

The pair shared a joke about their health, with Mrs Page telling the King she was "wearing out". The King responded: "I know, this is the terrible thing, as I am discovering already. The bits don't work so well when you get past 70."

Charles also told cancer patient Matthew Shinda, 73, "I'm not too bad," as he was asked about his own recovery during the engagement. The King, who was diagnose

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