King Charles briefly mentioned his health during an event he hosted at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday evening. 

Providing a rare health update during a meeting with New Zealand’s women’s rugby union team, the monarch shared that due to “doctor’s orders” he won’t be able to travel to their country in his upcoming tour to Oceania. 

During his candid remarks, the King told the Black Ferns: “I am extremely sorry I can’t come to New Zealand in later October because of doctor’s orders. But I hope there will be another excuse before too long.

“But in the meantime, give my love to New Zealand, please, and New Zealanders, we get lots of nice Kiwi coming here in this part of the world as well, so we are very lucky indeed.”

King Charles went on to tell the young athletes: “And I hope you make the most of your time in the team because you don’t stay young for very long, as I discovered, it all goes quicker than you think.” 

This prompted laughter among the rugby players, which in turn made the monarch chuckle.

The King continued: “Anyway, I do hope you have great success.” 

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