While attending an Order of Merit service with Queen Elizabeth on Thursday, he had the perfect quip when asked about his decision to step back from royal duties.
As he met well wishers at St. James’s Palace one guest told him, “I’m sorry to hear you’re standing down.”
Quick as a flash, Philip, who turns 96 in June, came back with, “Well, I can’t stand up much longer.”
Watch the hilarious exchange below:
He and the Queen had made the short drive from Buckingham Palace to the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, London, for the service (where people who have made great achievements in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science, were honoured) shortly after news broke around the world of his stepping down.
Social media was in a frenzy last night after rumours of an “emergency meeting” at Buckingham Palace made its way around Twitter, with many worried that either Philip or the Queen were in poor health (or worse).
Thursday morning’s announcement confirmed otherwise. And come fall, Philip will be basking in some well-deserved relaxation.
This article originally appeared on PEOPLE.