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

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 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.

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”.