Tom Parker Bowles has revealed that he hasn’t spent Christmas at Sandringham estate for “various reasons” – but that he and his children still see Queen Camilla during post-Christmas celebrations.
The Royal Family are known to spend each Christmas at the Norfolk-based estate. The tradition, which has been upheld by King Charles, was also followed by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
But Queen Camilla’s son admitted “we are not the Royal Family”, potentially hinting at the reason he never makes it up to Sandringham for the Christmas Day walkabout.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Tom said: “We are married in, we are not the Royal Family – I’ve never for one second said that. I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly and we’ve know them all for a long time. It does seem natural.
“That’s not to say myself and the children spend our time running around palaces. I have my own job and the children have school. I haven’t been to Christmas yet for various reasons.”
Tom, 49, added that he and his two children – Lola, 17, and Freddy, 14 – still spend time with his mother, Queen Camilla, and father, Andrew Parker Bowles, a few days after Christmas.
He explained: “My mother and father are still great friends and we will go down on December 27 and my mother will sometimes come. It is something to work towards.
“It’s a maturity that is a great thing if – despite a marriage sometimes not working – you can keep it together for the sake of the children and the sake of each other then it’s a very good thing.”
The Royal Family have several big events in the diary before the festive season gets underway – including the King’s 76th birthday on November 14. A few days before, on November 10, the family will lead the nation for the annual Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in London.
Darren McGrady – who was personal chef to the late Queen for fifteen years, revealed that the royals tuck into their Christmas dinner – with all the trimmings – on Christmas Day meal at Sandringham. They then settle down in front of the TV to watch Her Majesty’s traditional message to her people. Writing previously in the Mail on Sunday, Mr McGrady said, “Right from my first Christmas, I was in love with and enchanted by Sandringham”.
