How do King Charles and Joe Biden keep going?
As others of their age are kicking back in retirement, what motivates the King and the President?
Would you work into your 80s?
ABC Radio Sydney recently interviewed National Seniors Australia Chief Advocate Ian Henschke about President Biden's desire to be re-elected and work well into his 80s.
At 74, newly crowned King Charles III is eight years older than the current retirement age in the United Kingdom. His wife, Queen Camilla, is nearly a year older than him.
US President Joe Biden is 80 and he’s recently announced he wants to contest the next election, meaning – if successful – he’ll be 86 when he finally leaves office and his wife, Jill, will be 75.
Both men are at an age where they could be excused for putting up their feet but, as National Seniors Australia continues to campaign, seniors have a lot to contribute to the workforce and those who choose to work should be encouraged.
Here’s what Charles and Joe can teach us about living well while ageing gracefully, whether still at work or in retirement.
King Charles III is the “the fittest man of his age I know”. That’s what Queen Camilla told the BBC.
“He’ll walk and walk and walk,” she said. “He’s like a mountain goat, he leaves everybody miles behind.”
Being King is no stroll in the garden, although Charles is said to love exactly that, along with hiking in the countryside to commune with nature.
Even for his coronation he needed uncommon strength – his robes weighed as much as 7kg and the solid-gold St Edwards crown is a head-crushing 2.23kg.
For decades he has done the Canadian Air Force 5BX list of 12-minute physical exercises each day, and to help with his back pain he performs daily headstands or hangs from a bar.
A little insight offered by Prince Harry in his book Spare is that Charles does his exercises, prescribed by his physiotherapist, in a pair of boxers.
Charles is said to be a workaholic who structures his day around a discipled routine of exercise and diet.
Charles doesn’t eat lunch. He thinks it a waste of time that gets in the way of doing more important things. So, he has a hearty breakfast of plums, granola, and poached eggs.
Health experts can’t fault this, saying people who eat breakfast are more likely to meet their daily recommended nutrient needs than those who don’t. This helps protect their physical and cognitive functions.
For two days a week he follows a vegetarian diet, which is quite a sacrifice as his favourite dinner is reportedly lamb with mushroom risotto.
He’ll break up his day with a brisk walk for fresh air and, around 5pm, he has a cuppa, often sweetened with organic honey.
Charles will meet up with Camilla at this time and the tea is accompanied by sandwiches and some fruit cake. Leftovers are eaten the next day.
He eats dinner at 8.30pm and then around 10pm he finishes any outstanding paperwork, often working until after midnight.
Those who walk with Charles are said to prepare for the exercise by joining a gym. Those who join him in his other passion – salmon fishing – perhaps have a more relaxing time.
The King enjoys the recreation so much that he’s been known to plan holidays around the best fly fishing and salmon spots.
It seems his time in Australia as a teenager helped form his love of physical activity and life balance.
In 2011 he told an audience at Australia House in London: “I’ve been through my fair share of being called a ‘pommie bastard’. By God, it was good for the character. If you want to develop character, go to Australia.”
President Biden has been mocked with myriad stories of his alleged napping, attention lapses and forgetfulness. Ageism may well be his toughest opponent, but at the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner, he laughed along with the jokes.
In a roast of the President, comedian Roy Wood Jr noted the street protests in France against raising the retirement age. “They rioted because they didn’t want to work until 64. Meanwhile, in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work,” he dead-panned, drawing a broad smile from Biden.
Like Charles, Joe Biden’s day is one of well-worn routines, albeit with a diet that’s not always healthy. Gatorade and chocolate chip cookies are among his favourite treats.
Biden begins his mornings with a workout that often includes lifting weights and cardio exercises, and he has regular sessions with a trainer.
During the 2020 campaign, he cycled regularly on both traditional and gym bikes.
Biden eats a low-calorie lunch, usually soup and a chopped grilled chicken salad plus Coke Zero.
Those chocolate chip cookies come individually wrapped with a gold White House seal, making them hot commodities among staff and visitors.
Getting fresh air is also important. He’s known to sneak out during the day to the South Lawn or Rose Garden, often with his German shepherds, Champ and Major.
The President takes the time to personally write to and even call some of the everyday Americans who contact him.
Growing up, Biden saw many of his family members battle alcohol addiction. Because of this, he spent much of his life teetotal but is now known to drink in moderation.
He has said that his secret to ageing well is to enjoy staying fit, and to have a loving family, a rewarding job, lots of friends, and reasons to get up in the morning.
However, one commentator observed, “Despite being committed to wellness, he loves nothing more than eating an ‘unhealthy’ amount of ice cream.”
Related stories: The Healthy, The Australian, The Washington Post, The Australian
Photo: Buckingham Palace handout
