Meet Queen Camilla’s only son, Tom Parker Bowles – who defended his mum against Prince Harry’s ‘villain’ accusations, and is a respected food writer and TV personality

Sep 30 , 2024

Tom Parker Bowles is the 49-year-old son of Queen Camilla. Photos: SCMP Archive, @themountbattenwindsors/Instagram

Earlier this month, food writer Tom Parker Bowles launched his latest cookbook, Cooking and the Crown, and his parents Queen Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles came out in support

When Camilla Parker Bowles was crowned Queen Consort of the United Kingdom alongside her husband, King Charles, on May 6, 2023, she made sure neither garlic nor chilli appeared on the coronation menu, according to The Independent.

Her son Tom Parker Bowles elaborated on the likely reasoning behind her choice during an appearance on The News Agents podcast: “I think that garlic can make your breath smell somewhat, so I think just for purely social reasons you wouldn’t have garlic. She doesn’t like chilli. She doesn’t like massive spice. And I think if you’re walking around and meeting lots of people … I think you have to be a little bit careful not to get the tummy too excited,” he explained.

Given the royal family’s privacy and “never complain, never explain” motto, it’s always noteworthy when we learn something personal about them – or when a member of the family goes on a podcast for that matter. So, what else do we know about Queen Camilla’s only son, Tom Parker Bowles?

Tom Parker Bowles is Queen Camilla’s eldest child

Camilla Parker Bowles pictured in 1998 with her children Tom and Laura in London. Photo: AFP

Born on December 18, 1974, in London, Tom Parker Bowles is the son of Camilla, the Queen Consort, and Andrew Parker Bowles, a British Army officer. Tom, alongside his younger sister Laura, was raised at Bolehyde Manor, according to Country Life – a historic, 700-year-old manor house. Per British media, he completed his early education at Eton College before going on to study at Worcester College, Oxford.

What does Tom Parker Bowles do for a living?

Tom Parker Bowles is the eldest of Camilla Parker Bowles’ two children with army officer Andrew Parker Bowles. Photo: @ProRoyalFamily/X

After finishing his education, Parker Bowles initially embarked on a career in public relations. He worked as a film publicist at a PR firm but later transitioned to writing.

Parker Bowles candidly discussed his early career struggles with Town & Country magazine in 2019. “I was really s*** at every job I did after university and was fired most of the time,” he admitted. “I mean, food’s the one universal experience apart from death. You can be celibate and you cannot drink and you cannot pay your taxes, but everyone has to eat.”

Tom Parker Bowles is a published author and food writer. Photo: @ewanventers/Instagram

Since transitioning to journalism, Parker Bowles has built a successful career in the field. He’s contributed to Conde Nast Traveller, Town & Country, and Barley magazine, among others; held the position of food editor at Esquire; and is currently the restaurant critic for The Mail on Sunday. Parker Bowles has also become something of a television personality too, hosting the Market Kitchen show on the Good Food Channel and serving as a judge on the UK’s version of MasterChef.