King Charles ‘Exercises Twice a Day’ and ‘Squats and Does the Pull-Up Bar,’ He Tells Olympians and Paralympians

As he prepares to turn 76 on Nov. 14, King Charles’ exercise regime has been revealed after a conversation with Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

The King spoke to the athletes at a Buckingham Palace reception Nov. 7, where he attended without his wife Queen Camilla by his side as she recovers from a chest infection. There in her stead was Princess Anne and Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, who earlier in the day represented the Queen, 77, at a Remembrance event at Westminster Abbey.

As his treatment for cancer continues after being diagnosed earlier this year, Charles revealed that he “exercises twice a day,” telling sprinter Desiree Henry that he “squats and does the pull-up bar,” according to The Telegraph. The outlet reported that the King “has previously been known to adhere to a strict regimen of Royal Navy-style exercises, learned during his time in the Armed Forces, like his father [the late Prince Philip] before him.”

Jack Laugher, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics for diving alongside Tom Daley, said that “He was really interested in our sports facilities and training program. This was the most successful Games for diving, especially for the women.”

With the reception coming soon after he and Camilla’s tour of Australia and Samoa, Laugher said the King “was so animated and interested, especially after his travels. He is meeting hundreds of athletes today and he did remember me.”

Jokingly, Laugher added, “He didn’t ask about Tom!”

Guests were served champagne, canapés and vegetable crisps at the event, “but the health-conscious King did not consume them himself,” according to The Telegraph.

After the King announced his cancer diagnosis on Feb. 5 — and continues treatment for it, the type and stage of which remains undisclosed — Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles recently told PEOPLE that “The King is strong. He is doing what he can. He’s following the advice of his doctors. Fingers crossed, touch wood.”

As for his mother, he added, “I’m incredibly proud of her. She’s at an age when most people think of retiring, but she never complains; she just gets on with it.”

The palace announced on Nov. 5 that “Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.”

“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week, but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal. She apologizes to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

On Nov. 8, the palace announced the members of the royal family who would be in attendance at Nov. 9’s Festival of Remembrance at Royal Albert Hall and Nov. 10’s Remembrance Sunday event at The Cenotaph war memorial in London. While Kate Middleton is listed as attending both events — her first major royal events since announcing she’d completed chemotherapy on Sept. 9 — Queen Camilla’s attendance remains uncertain.