The musician is slated to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.

Phil Collins makes rare public appearance months after revealing devastating health issues

The musician is slated to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

EW's editorial guidelines

May 19, 2026 5:10 p.m. ET

Phil Collins in New York in December 2021. Credit:

John Lamparski/Getty

- Phil Collins made a rare public appearance in London with his ex-wife amid health issues.

- The drummer revealed months earlier that he has a "24-hour live-in nurse" to help him manage his medication after years of health setbacks.

- In November, Phil will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Phil Collins made a rare public appearance in London over the weekend.

The drummer's ex-wife Jill Collins shared a photo of them with Rod Stewart and his wife Penny Lancaster at Buckingham Palace, celebrating The King's Trust 50th anniversary. The former Genesis frontman has remained largely out of the spotlight after several health setbacks that has left him unable to play drums.

"Despite the downpours of torrential rain which did not seem to dampen the festivities @officialphilcollins and I were very proud and honored to be there and have a few private moments with King Charles who seemed genuinely pleased to see Phil who was the very first ambassador 40 years ago and a trustee even before that!" Jill wrote on Instagram.**

Jill Collins, Phil Collins, Rod Stewart, and Penny Lancaster in London in May 2026.

Penny Lancaster/Instagram

Jill also said that she and Phil, who were married from 1984 to 1996, were working together on an auction to benefit The King's Trust. "We are donating hundreds of items from our personal archives with 100% of the proceeds benefiting @kingstrust as well as asking others to donate very special personal items," Jill wrote.

She added, "Phil has also designed a tshirt which will be sold with all the proceeds going to @kingstrust. If you do not know the amazing work @kingstrust does to help young people please take a minute or two to look it up!"

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

In January, the legendary musician spoke about the health complications he suffers from after a spinal injury in 2007, which resulted in damage to the vertebrae in his upper neck along with significant nerve damage. He also developed "drop foot" after an operation done for his back, making it difficult to walk.

When asked if he's come to terms with being unable to play music due to his deteriorating health, Phil told Zoe Bell for BBC's *Eras *podcast that it's "an ongoing thing."

"You know, I have a 24-hour live-in nurse to make sure I take my medication as I should do. I've had challenges with my knee... I had everything that could go wrong with me, did go wrong with me," he said.**

Oasis, Billy Idol, Sade, Phil Collins are among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 inductees

Lily Collins thought Phil Collins' Genesis songs were 'a melody in my head'

The musician added that he had undergone five different surgeries for his knees and finally has one "that works."

"I can walk, albeit with assistance, you know, crutches or whatever," he noted.

Phil also mentioned at the time of the interview that he was two years sober. “I’d probably been drinking too much, and so my kidneys were messed up,” he said. “I wasn’t one of those guys that sort of stayed up all night drinking. I’d drink during the day, but I guess I had too much of it.”

He added, "It's just been a difficult, interesting, frustrating last few years. But it's all right now."

Years before, in 2021, he revealed that he could no longer play the drums. However, while speaking on the BBC *Eras *podcast in January, Phil admitted that he would like to return to the studio. “I’ve got some things that are half formed or were never finished, and a couple of things that were finished, which I like, so you know. Maybe life in the old dog. Yeah. You’ll see,” he said.

Phil Collins in Miami in November 2019.

John Parra/Getty

Throughout his career, Phil has been nominated for 27 Grammy Awards and won eight, including Album of the Year for *No Jacket Required *and Best Soundtrack Album for *Tarzan*. In November, Phil will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Health

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”