Phil Collins made a rare public appearance this week, marking a significant moment in his life as he continues to navigate his ongoing health challenges. The 75-year-old music icon has faced numerous medical issues over the years, which have led to him requiring 24-hour nursing care.
Collins first encountered serious health problems in 2007 when he dislocated a vertebrae in his neck while drumming during the Genesis reunion tour. This injury caused severe nerve damage to his hands, effectively ending his ability to play the drums. Over time, the physical toll of performing took its toll, leading to drop foot, a condition that makes it difficult to lift the front of the foot. As a result, Collins now relies on mobility aids to help him walk.
In 2021, Collins described himself as “physically challenged.” He has undergone five knee operations, dealt with kidney problems, and experienced prolonged hospitalisations. Additionally, he has type 2 diabetes. Despite these challenges, he remains in good spirits, as seen in photos of him smiling and interacting with fellow celebrities at Buckingham Palace.
The creator of “In the Air Tonight” was at the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of King Charles’s charity, The King’s Trust, formerly known as The Prince’s Trust. The gathering brought together A-listers such as George and Amal Clooney, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Idris Elba.
A photo shared by Jill, Collins’s ex-wife and mother of actress Lily Collins, shows Sir Rod Stewart, 81, with an arm around Collins. Collins appears dapper in a black suit and red tie, using two crutches for support. In her caption, Jill described the event as “a truly memorable afternoon,” highlighting the significance of Collins’s role as one of the first ambassadors for the charity 40 years ago.
Jill also revealed that she and Collins are collaborating on a King’s Trust auction, donating items from their personal archives. Fans took to social media to express their admiration for the couple. One fan, @simon.kiddo, wrote: “This is amazing, Jill! You look fabulous and so does Phil ❤️💙 Please pass on our best regards to him, and love from all of us to both of you X.”
Another fan, @ksteffen61, commented: “Phil is looking fabulous! Out and about and doing what he loves…keep it up, Phil! I know you can do it!!” Meanwhile, @thehappypebble added: “This post has made my day. Jill you look amazing and it’s so good to see the two of you together. It’s especially good to see Phil out and about. Good luck with the auction ❤️.”
Collins retired in 2022 after his band’s farewell tour, as he could no longer drum without experiencing pain. During a January interview for his BBC Two special, Phil Collins Eras: In Conversation, he spoke about his ongoing health struggles. “I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do,” he said. “I’ve had challenges with my knee — I had everything that could go wrong with me did go wrong with me.”
He also mentioned that he contracted Covid while in the hospital, which led to his kidneys starting to fail. “Everything… that could all seemed to sort of converge at the same time,” he explained.
Following five knee surgeries, Collins stated that he now has “a knee that works,” and he can walk “albeit with assistance” on crutches or other mobility devices. He described the past few years as “difficult, interesting, and frustrating.”
In the same interview, Collins reflected on his sobriety, having just celebrated a two-year milestone. He admitted that his alcoholism stemmed from personal troubles and his back injury. “I’d probably been drinking too much, and so my kidneys were messed up,” he said. “I mean, I enjoyed coming off tour. Coming off the road, but I thought, ‘Right, I’m gonna do all those things that I couldn’t do.’”
He stopped drinking at six o’clock in the evening, though he admitted to falling 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.”
During his final live performances, Collins accepted that he could no longer drum, so he sang from a stool while his son took over percussion duties. In 2025, Collins told Mojo magazine that he is no longer “hungry” enough to create new music, despite his decades of success and 150 million worldwide record sales as a solo artist. “The thing is, I’ve been sick. I mean, very sick.”
However, in early 2026, he gave fans a glimmer of hope, mentioning in a BBC interview that he still has unfinished projects. “Maybe life in the old dog. Yeah. You’ll see.”
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