Queen Camilla's son speaks out on his mother's 'reputation for heavily drinking and smoking'

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla's son speaks out on his mother's 'reputation for heavily drinking and smoking'

PA
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 30/09/2024

- 16:39

Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Queen and her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, has published a new book titled Cooking and the Crown

Queen Camilla's son has spoken out about his mother's "reputation for heavily drinking and smoking".

Tom Parker Bowles, the son of the Queen and her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, has published a new book titled Cooking and the Crown.


The 49-year-old has spoken out about his mother's reputation for chain-smoking and excessive drinking, rumours of which he dismissed as "inaccurate".

He added: "If anyone ever meets my mother, they always… I mean, a son would say this, but she’s someone I love going to have dinner with.

Queen CamillaQueen Camilla's son speaks out on his mother's 'reputation for heavily drinking and smoking'PA

"And I go for a walk with her in Scotland. You’re always going to have your rows, differences of opinion.

"It would be very odd if we agreed [on] everything. Creepy. I certainly would annoy her sometimes.

"Oh, you know she has that reputation of drinking gin and smoking? Never drunk a glass of gin in her life. Doesn’t smoke."

Parker Bowles said the rumours likely came from the portrayal of Camilla in the Channel 4 sitcom The Windsors.

Tom Parker-Bowles and CamillaTom Parker-Bowles is the 49-year-old son of Queen Camilla and ex-British Army officer Andrew Parker-BowlesPA

He said that he watched the show and loved Harry Enfield, who played King Charles, adding that Haydn Gwynne, who played Camilla was brilliant.

Parker Bowles continued to tell The Times: "Yes. She was really brilliant.

"But my mother hardly drinks. Never seen her so much as tipsy."

Queen Camilla's son praised his mother's cooking skills, particularly her shepherd pie and roast chicken.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla garnered a reputation for drinking and smoking before marrying King Charles

PA

Queen Camilla and Michelle Obama

Queen Camilla greeting Michelle Obama in 2009 with a drink in her hand

PA

He said: "My mother was a good cook. Totally normal, nice food, watching The Fall Guy with shepherd’s pie, you know.

"My mother’s roast chicken. I’ve wheeled that out before.

He also praised King Charles, saying that he "loves, respects and adores" him.

Cooking And The Crown by Tom Parker Bowles was published on September 26.

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