Queen Camilla’s son, Thomas “Tom” Parker Bowles, lives differently than most royals. He is the product of Queen Camilla’s marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, whom she divorced in 1995. That makes him a stepsibling to Prince William, Prince Harry.
His mother, Camilla, is also the mother of Laura Lopes and stepmom to Prince Harry and William. It seems like a complex family dynamic, but the family has become well-blended since she and Prince Charles married almost two decades ago.
As such, it is not totally surprising that Queen Camilla’s son, a royal half-blood, has been granted the privilege of celebrating Christmas with the royal family for the first time.
“We live in 2024 and blended families—it’s a little bit different from the days of Victoria and Edward. If they’re happy, then we’re happy, and that’s where it all starts from,” Queen Camilla’s son, Tom, told PEOPLE amid the release of his latest book, “Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III.”
Queen Camilla’s Son Also Has A Blended Family
The coronation in May 2023 spotlighted Tom’s family, revealing his special bond with his daughter Lola, 17, and son Freddy, 14, whom he shares with ex-wife Sara Buys. Freddy even participated in the ceremony as a page alongside others, including Prince George.
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Tom’s children reportedly share a close relationship with their “Gaga and Uppa,” their affectionate names for Camilla and Charles. “They adore her,” he said. They adore the King, too. He has been a wonderful step-grandfather.”
“We blend in and blend,” he continued. “Of course, there’s the boys [William and Harry], and talking of the wider family, Peter Phillips is a little bit younger than me, and I’ve grown up with him and Zara [Tindall]. The York girls [Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie] are two of the nicest women you’d hope to meet.”
Why Queen Camilla’s Son Thinks He Does Not Get To Spend Christmas With the Royal Family
Despite what reports from last year suggested, Tom Parker Bowles, 49, has confirmed he still hasn’t celebrated the traditional Christmas gathering in Sandringham with the royal family. “We are married in, we are not the royal family—I’ve never for one second said that,” he says. “I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly, and we’ve known them all for a long time. It does seem natural.”
“That’s not to say myself and the children spend time running around palaces,” he added. “I have my own job, and the children have school. I haven’t been to Christmas yet for various reasons.” According to Tom Parker Bowles, his mother specifically asked him to join them for Christmas celebrations with his family. And he is down for it.
“For the past 15 years, it has been: I go back to my ex-wife’s house, sit in my tracksuit bottoms, go to the pub while the beef’s in, then try to get my children to watch ‘The Wild Geese,’” he said. “So this would be a bit different.”
How Queen Camilla Has Made Up for It in the Past
Queen Camilla’s son has not yet spent Christmas at Sandringham. However, Camilla has often included him, his sister, and her ex-husband in her celebrations by joining them for a post-holiday gathering.
“My mother and father are still great friends, and we will go down on December 27, and my mother will sometimes come,” Tom has said.
Reflecting on his split from his ex-wife, whom he left in 2018 and divorced in 2022, he adds, “I’m divorced, but you get on with your ex-wife for the sake of the children; that’s what matters. My priority is to make sure my children are happy and safe and comfortable – just like any other divorced father.”
Who Is Queen Camilla’s Son?
Queen Camilla’s son, Thomas Henry Parker Bowles, popularly known as Tom, was born in 1974. He is King Charles’s godson and stepson; however, he maintains a distance from the royal family despite claims of how blended they have become in modern times.
He married Sara Buys in 2005, the same year his mother and Charles tied the knot. The marriage led to the birth of two kids, Frederick and Lola, whom Parker Bowles adores and does his best to co-parent alongside his ex-wife.
What Does Queen Camilla’s Son Do?
Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, is a London-based food critic. According to the author’s page on his publishers’ website, his work has appeared in “The Mail on Sunday,” “Night and Day,” and “Tatler.”
He is also the author of two books, “The Year of Eating Dangerously” and “E is for Eating: An Alphabet of Greed,” and several cookbooks, including “Time for Tea,” published last year.
What Is Queen Camilla’s Son’s Age?
Queen Camilla’s son was born on December 18, 1974, making him 49 years of age at the time of this publication.
Is Queen Camilla Son Single?
Queen Camilla’s son is somewhat private about his relationships, so little is known about the women he dates. We do know that he was once married to Sara Buys. However, since their split, he has only been linked to one other woman, Alice Procope, a former journalist who died from cancer in 2021.
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Whether or not he is single is unknown, but if he isn’t, fans may find out if he actually joins the royal family at Sandringham this Christmas.
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