Camilla Jessen
Queen Camilla’s son jokes Buckingham Palace would be “stormed” if he became a prince.
Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, has said he has no desire to hold a royal title and joked that the public reaction would be disastrous if he ever became a prince.
The 51-year-old food writer made the remarks on the Good Food podcast, where he laughed off the idea of formally joining the ranks of the Royal Family.
Parker Bowles, who is the restaurant critic for The Mail on Sunday, was speaking with podcast host Samuel Goldsmith when the topic turned to royal titles. Goldsmith joked that if his own mother became queen, he would demand to be made a prince.
“I’d tell you that would be the quickest way to revolution,” Parker Bowles responded.
Keeping his distance
While he described Britain as generally “fairly balanced and sober and sensible,” he added that public patience would not stretch that far.
“If I suddenly became prince, I think Buckingham Palace gates would be stormed,” he said. “It would be appalling. Really, no. I think that would put back the long and glorious cause of the monarchy in Britain by many years.”
Goldsmith teased that becoming a prince might at least bring commercial perks, suggesting Parker Bowles could land his own Netflix series. Laughing, Parker Bowles replied that he “wouldn’t mind that,” but quickly added that he was happy to stick with his current life.
Parker Bowles is Queen Camilla’s son from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles. He and his sister, Laura Lopes, became step-siblings to Prince William and Prince Harry when King Charles married Camilla in 2005.
Unlike their royal relatives, both have chosen to live largely private lives outside the monarchy.
Occasional royal moments
Despite keeping their distance from official duties, Parker Bowles and Lopes have appeared at major family events.
They attended Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral in September 2022 and were present at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May 2023.
Camilla is also regularly seen supporting her children at social occasions, including horse races and book launches. In a 2024 interview with People, Parker Bowles spoke warmly about Camilla and King Charles as grandparents to his two children, Lola and Freddy.
“They adore her. They adore the King, too,” he said. “He has been a wonderful step-grandfather.”
Sources: Good Food podcast; People
