Queen Camilla's Son Responds to Prince Harry: Author Counters Duke's Memoir Remarks About Former Mistress Mom
Queen Camilla's son, Tom Parker-Bowles, 49, from her first marriage to Andrew-Parker Bowles, "professionally chided" Prince Harry, 39, in his upcoming book, Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. The food writer was not pleased with how the Montecito Duke "wrote disparaging things about his mother," a royal insider spilled.
Royal expert Phil Dampier feels that Parker-Bowles' book will not come anywhere near the incendiary controversy of 2023's Spare. "Tom is very much supporting and celebrating the monarchy and would never do anything to damage it. He is sending a message that you can talk about the monarchy in positive terms and not denigrate it as Harry did in Spare. Harry washed his dirty linen in public, and that is something Tom would never do."
The commentator added how Parker-Bowles likely has "so many bits of inside information that others would kill for," when it comes to Her Majesty's personal feelings as well as the goings-on behind palace walls. "But he has remained discreet and would obviously never do anything to upset his mother, who trusts him totally."
The author gave a pointed reply when asked in a 2023 interview about Harry's claim that his mother was with King Charles to achieve an "endgame" of becoming Queen. "I think change happens but I don’t care what anyone says — this wasn’t any sort of end game. She married the person she loved and this is what happened."
That same year, the Duke of Sussex told CNN's Anderson Cooper: "[Queen Camilla] began playing the long game: a campaign aimed at marriage and eventually the crown."
Friends of Her Majesty claimed she was offended by Harry's comments. "Of course, it bothers her, of course, it hurts. But she doesn't let it get to her. Her philosophy is always, 'Don't make a thing of it and it will settle down – least said, soonest mended,''' Lady Lansdowne told a publication in 2023.
This insight follows reports from last summer that claimed King Charles "has had it with his youngest son, Prince Harry, and is starting to bond more with his stepson, Tom Parker Bowles, since Harry's long absence from the U.K."
A publication claimed that the fifth in line to the throne's constant troubles with the media and his monetized complaining stand in stark contrast to Parker Bowles' stable and relatively carefree life. This lack of drama from his stepson, when combined with Prince William's commitment to duty, is said to please the king greatly these days.
The Queen's son and her daughter, Laura Lopes, 46, have no connection at all to the British monarchy, even though both are regularly invited to royal events as guests of Her Majesty.
Daily Express reported on Dampier's remarks.