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Queen Camilla's son shares shocking admission about his mother's drinking and smoking habits

Home> News> Royal Family

Published 14:28 10 Jul 2025 GMT+1

Queen Camilla's son shares shocking admission about his mother's drinking and smoking habits

Tom Parker-Bowles delved into the subject on Kate Thornton’s ‘White Wine Question Time’ podcast

Madison Burgess

Madison Burgess

Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker-Bowles has lifted the lid on his mother’s drinking, eating, and smoking habits - and what he said may surprise you.

The 50-year-old British food writer is the Queen Consort’s only son, and despite being the offspring of a royal, said he had to ‘work like everyone’ else to get where he wanted in life and ‘never had a trust fund’ from his parents.

Tom’s father is Andrew Parker Bowles, who Camilla divorced in 1995, and the former couple also share a daughter, Laura Lopes, 47.

He opened up on his life as a writer and previous roles in PR, as well as his relationship with his mother, in a new episode of Kate Thornton’s ‘White Wine Question Time’ podcast.

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For those who aren’t familiar, there’s a rather bizarre but popular rumour that the wife of King Charles III enjoys her gin and cigarettes.

But Tom was keen to quickly shut this down, and instead insisted that he’s ‘never seen her tipsy’ and she doesn’t even ‘drink gin.’

Queen Camilla's son, Tom Parker-Bowles, has opened up on some of her habits (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
Queen Camilla's son, Tom Parker-Bowles, has opened up on some of her habits (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)

He started out by discussing what kind of food she likes, and told host Kate: “If I did cook for her, it would probably be something like a piece of fish, she doesn't really eat a lot of meat.”

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Tom then added: “And contrary to popular sort of stereotype, I've never in my whole life seen her even tipsy.”

Kate chimed in with: “You’re right, that kind of myth persists, doesn't it? That she likes to knock back a G and T with a cigarette?”

To which the food writer doubled down with: “I’ve never seen her tipsy in my life. Never. She doesn't drink gin, which is this whole thing, and she gave up fags 20 years ago. 30 years ago maybe.”

He added that Camilla ‘likes red wine’ but is a ‘very moderate and sensible drinker.’

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Emphasising his point, he said: “You know, I mean literally a glass and a half.”

Back to the topic of what his mum cooks, he clarified her best meals are fish and scrambled eggs.

He made sure to squash the rumours that Camilla enjoys a gin and cigarette (Jeff Spicer / Getty Images)
He made sure to squash the rumours that Camilla enjoys a gin and cigarette (Jeff Spicer / Getty Images)

Tom revealed that the royal likes ‘quite plain’ food and around ‘90 percent’ of the dishes in his new cookbook probably wouldn’t be served to her as she doesn’t like ‘spice or garlic.’

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He sweetly added that despite his mother’s title changing, their relationship hasn’t in the slightest - and she even enjoys a gossip.

Tom explained: “We’re there eating, gossiping, talking - she’s just the same.”

This also isn’t the first time that the food expert has spoken out about his mother’s eating and drinking habits.

In an interview with The Times in October last year, he opened up on the rumour again.

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He said: “Oh, you know she has that reputation of drinking gin and smoking? Never drunk a glass of gin in her life. Doesn’t smoke. My mother hardly drinks. Never seen her so much as tipsy.”

So, that’s the record well and truly set straight!

Featured Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Topics: Food and Drink, Queen Camilla, Royal Family, UK News, Alcohol, Parenting, Podcasts

Madison Burgess
Madison Burgess

Madison is a Journalist at Tyla with a keen interest in lifestyle, entertainment and culture. She graduated from the University of Sheffield with a first-class degree in Journalism Studies, and has previously written for DMG Media as a Showbiz Reporter and Audience Writer.

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