Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has issued a seven-word comment on his mother’s rumoured heavy drinking and smoking habits.
Upon the release of his new book, Cooking and the Crown – which was released in September – the 49-year-old insisted that this image of his mother was “inaccurate” – and suggested that it likely stems from Channel 4’s The Windsors.
Speaking to The Times in September, Tom said that he’d “never seen her so much as tipsy” in an attempt to squash circulating rumours.
Buckingham Palace released earlier this week that the 77-year-old has been forced to pull out of engagements this week due to a chest infection. Tom’s thoughts came just a matter of weeks before the Queen’s illness.
Discussing his mother, he added: “[She’s] never drunk a glass of gin in her life”, and added that she “doesn’t smoke”.
While no specific details of her illness or treatment have been released, it is understood that she would remain under doctors’ supervision.
According to the Mirror, a Palace spokesperson said on Tuesday: “Her Majesty The Queen is currently unwell with a chest infection, for which her doctors have advised a short period of rest.
“With great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week but she very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal.
“She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
While it was previously reported that the Queen was a smoker previously, a source recently told Express.co.uk that she now leads a healthier lifestyle.
They said that both the Queen and King Charles enjoy eating “hearty meals using fresh produce [from the estate].”
In Tom’s book, he also compiled together many royal recipes – including nutritious recipes that his mother enjoys cooking.
He told The Times: “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 added.
