Tom Parker Bowles Opens Up About Spending Holidays Apart from the Royals
As the Royal Family’s cherished Christmas traditions approach, one notable absence from Sandringham this year will be Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles. While King Charles and Camilla are expected to lead the family’s festive celebrations, including the traditional Christmas morning church walk, Tom’s plans diverge, offering a glimpse into the complexities of blended royal families.
In a candid interview with People, Tom explained that, although he’s part of the extended family, he doesn’t consider himself a “royal.” Reflecting on his relationship with the royal family, he shared, “We are married in, we are not the royal family. I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly… but I have my own job, and the children have school. I haven’t been to Christmas yet for various reasons.”
Despite not joining the royals at Sandringham, Tom revealed that he and his children—Camilla’s beloved grandchildren—will celebrate with her and his father, Andrew Parker Bowles, on December 27 at their own gathering. “My mother and father are still great friends,” he explained, “and we will go down… It’s a maturity that is a great thing if, despite a marriage sometimes not working, you can keep it together for the sake of the children.”
Reflecting on his relationship with Queen Camilla, Tom also noted the challenges in staying connected. “She’s always worked quite hard… I ring my mother, she doesn’t answer; I look on the television (and realise), Ah! She’s in Jersey.” He added that due to Camilla’s use of an “old-fashioned phone”—the durable Nokia 3310—for security reasons, modern communication like WhatsApp isn’t an option. This choice, reported by GB News, reflects the Queen’s preference for simplicity and security amid royal life’s complexities.
