Phil Collins is not letting his health keep him away from the people who matter most. The legendary musician, 75, made a rare and moving public appearance this week at Buckingham Palace, arriving on crutches to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of King Charles III’s charity, The King’s Trust, formerly known as The Prince’s Trust.
GettyCollins was photographed alongside Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster, suited in a sharp black two-piece with a red tie, smiling warmly despite everything his body has been through in recent years.
Rod Stewart’s Wife Captures the Moment in a Heartfelt Post
It was Jill Collins who gave the public a window into what the evening meant, sharing the photo with a caption that said everything.
“Despite the downpours of torrential rain, which did not seem to dampen the festivities, @officialphilcollins and I were very proud and honored to be there and have a few private moments with King Charles,s who seemed genuinely pleased to see Phil, who was the very first ambassador 40 years ago and a trustee even before that!” she wrote.
Collins was not just another guest at the celebration. He has been connected to the charity longer than almost anyone, serving as its very first ambassador four decades ago and as a trustee even before that.
The evening also drew Benedict Cumberbatch, Idris Elba, and George Clooney alongside his wife, attorney Amal Clooney.
A Long Road: The Health Battles Phil Collins Has Faced
The appearance was significant for anyone who has followed Collins’ health journey over the past several years.
As per a Today report, his troubles began with a spinal injury sustained during the 2007 Genesis tour, which led to nerve damage affecting both his hands and legs and ultimately forced him off the drums.
He has since undergone multiple knee surgeries and lives with type 2 diabetes. A viral infection in 2000 also left him with significant hearing loss.
At his lowest point, Collins battled severe pancreatitis so serious that discussions about his will took place in the hospital, in front of his children.
He has also been candid about his relationship with alcohol.
Speaking to Zoe Ball earlier this year, he reflected openly on that period of his life. “It’s been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last two years,” he said, per Mirror UK.
“I wasn’t one of those guys that stayed up all night drinking, I’d drink during the day. But I guess I had too much of it and it all caught up with me.”
He expanded on that in a January appearance on the “BBC Eras” podcast. “I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever,” he said.
“I enjoyed coming off tour. Coming off the road, I thought, right, I’m gonna do all those things that I couldn’t do. I guess I had too much of it. I was never drunk, although I fell over a couple of times. But it is just one of those things that happened, and it all caught up with me, and I spent months in hospital.”
Before relying on crutches, Collins used a walker for nearly a decade.
Collins Has Stepped Back From Music but Remains at Peace With It
Collins officially stepped away from performing in 2022, and by his own account, he has made a quiet peace with that decision.
“I keep thinking I should go downstairs to the studio and see what happens,” he told Mojo Magazine last year. “But I’m not hungry for it anymore.”
It is a bittersweet admission from one of the most celebrated musicians of his generation. But his appearance at Buckingham Palace this week told its own story.
