Lionel Richie Says King Charles Is ‘Doing Fantastic’ and Looking Forward to His Call After King’s Trust Gala (Exclusive)
The Grammy winner gave PEOPLE an update on the monarch at the inaugural King’s Trust Global Gala in NYC

FOLKSTONE, BARBADOS – MARCH 19: (L-R) Lionel Richie, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Sir Tom Jones attend a Prince’s Trust International Reception at the Coral Reef Club Hotel on March 19, 2019 in Folkestone, Barbados.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are visiting a number countries as part of their Caribbean Tour, including a historic visit to Cuba. (Photo by Arthur Edwards – Pool/Getty Images)

Lionel Richie, Prince Charles — March 2019. Photo: Arthur Edwards – Pool/Getty
Lionel Richie says King Charles is doing well amid his cancer treatment.

On Thursday, May 2, while attending the inaugural King’s Trust Global Gala in New York, the American Idol judge, 74, gave PEOPLE an exclusive update regarding the monarch, 75, who returned to public-facing outings earlier this week following his cancer diagnosis in February.

“Happily I can say, he is doing fantastic,” Richie tells PEOPLE.

Lionel Richie The King’s Trust Global Gala
Lionel Richie and girlfriend Lisa Parigi attend The King’s Trust Gala.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

“Again, I understand, he needs to sit still, you know what I’m saying,” the “All Night Long” hitmaker continues.

“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,” he adds.

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Richie, who serves as a King’s Trust Global Ambassador and Chairman of the Global Ambassadors Group, tells PEOPLE, “We are here to represent and we’re gonna do a great job of that.”

According to the Grammy winner, he’s certain that once the inaugural event ends, he’ll receive a phone call from King Charles who will want to know all about how the evening went.

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“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?’ ” Richie jokes.

King Charles III arrives to visit the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London on April 30, 2024.
King Charles III, April 2024.
HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images

King Charles is slowly returning to his duties after revealing his cancer diagnosis in February.

Buckingham Palace shared that the King has several engagements planned in the coming weeks, including hosting a state visit at Buckingham Palace for the Emperor and Empress of Japan in late June.

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“He is always pushing, his staff and everybody and his doctors and nurses to be able to say, ‘Actually, can I do this? Can I do that?’ ” his nephew Peter Phillips previously said. “So the overriding message would be that he’s obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality. And he’s probably frustrated that, recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson added that “doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress” King Charles has made thus far, and he has been cleared to return to his duties while continuing his cancer treatment.

King Charles III speaks with Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi during the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of the King Charles III and the Queen Consort at Buckingham Palace, on May 3, 2023 in London, England.
King Charles III speaks with Lionel Richie and Lisa Parigi, May 2023. Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty
In April 2023, ahead of the royal coronation, Richie told PEOPLE he’s known the monarch “for a long time.”

“I really do celebrate his now stepping into the king role,” he continued.

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He also opened up on what it was like to be chosen as a performer for the prestigious event.

“I mean, you don’t get in the business and say, ‘You know what? I’ll be at the King’s coronation.’ You know, that just never comes up,” Richie said at the time. “[It’s] A, a surprise. B, what an honor. And C, the fact of all the names that are out there that he could have had for this, he called my name.”