Lionel Richie gives rare update on his friend, King Charles: ‘Gonna get that call’

Lionel Richie, who is a friend of the monarch, has shed light on Charles’ cancer battle during a gala event in his honour.

King Charles and Lionel Richie. Picture: American Idol/YouTube

Lionel Richie has opened up about King Charles’ health during a gala event in his honour, revealing he is doing “fantastic” following his return to public duties.

The All Night Long singer, who is friends with the monarch and performed at his Coronation Concert last year, was a special guest at the inaugural King’s Trust Global Gala in New York on Thursday night when he shared the update.

“Happily I can say, he is doing fantastic,” Richie, a Global Ambassador of the Trust, told People magazine.

“Again, I understand, he needs to sit still, you know what I’m saying. The most important part is he is doing well. He’s back to his duties and so therefore, I wouldn’t want the first thing for him to do is come over — let’s not prove anything here.”

Richie at the Gala on Thursday night. Picture: Theo Wargo/Getty Images/AFP

The King made an appearance on American Idol last year. Picture: American Idol/YouTube

Richie added that he was expecting a phone call from the King at the conclusion of the glitzy event.

“Believe me, my question [from him] now is, ‘How was it?’ After I finish tonight, I’m gonna get that call saying, ‘Well, how was it?’” he revealed.

Just over a month after the King’s nephew, Peter Phillips, revealed to Sky News Australia that his uncle was “hugely frustrated” at the speed of his treatment and recovery, the Palace revealed last week that he was returning to public-facing duties.

The King held hands with a patient at the cancer centre earlier this week. Picture: Suzanne Plunkett/Pool/AFP

Charles kicked off the upcoming spate of engagements with a visit to a cancer treatment centre in London on Tuesday, where he opened up about his own experience while chatting with patients.

One discussed her chemotherapy with the King, who told her: “I’ve got to have my treatment this afternoon as well”.

Another asked after his health, to which he responded: “I’m all right, thank you very much – not too bad”.

Charles also spoke for the first time about the moment he found out he had cancer, telling one patient: “It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it, when they tell you?”