No one would blame Prince Charles, 76 and suffering from cancer, for taking a break at home during the busy holiday season. But on Friday, December 20, the King went about his business as usual in his last public appearance before Christmas, issuing a punchy health update in the process.

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the London borough of Walthamstow to “celebrate community unity” and meet local leaders and youth. When asked by Harvinder Rattan, a representative of the Sikh community, how he was, the King quipped (according to the Mirror), “I am still alive.”

Following the King's joke, another update on the King's health was given. On Friday morning, it was announced that His Majesty the King's cancer treatment will continue until 2025; as reported by Sky News, palace sources revealed that the King is “making good progress and as a controlled condition, the treatment cycle will continue through next year.”

Sky News continued, adding, “Sources added that there is a sense of optimism seen in the King's desire to continue his busy schedule of official duties, including during the festive period.”

Prince Charles announced in February that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer after undergoing surgery for an enlarged prostate, but the Palace confirmed that the condition was unrelated.

Queen Camilla is president of the cancer support charity Maggie's, and its chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, told Sky News that it was “not at all surprising” that the king's cancer treatment would be delayed until 2025.

“It is quite common for treatment to continue for a very long time, as the Princess of Wales experienced. [There is immunotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, and hormone therapy. There are all kinds of treatments.”

As for the king's jam-packed vacation, he will head to Sandringham to enjoy Christmas with 45 members of the royal family, but his brother Prince Andreu will stay home amid the recent “Chinese spy” scandal.