Queen Camilla’s Son Will Attend His first Royal Christmas
The celebrations will take place, as per tradition, at Sandringham Estate.
Max Mumby/Getty Images
Despite having had King Charles as his stepfather since April 9, 2005, Tom Parker Bowles has never celebrated Christmas with the royals at Sandringham Estate—until now. For the first time since his mother was crowned Queen Camilla, her only son has finally confirmed that he will make the trip to the royal country retreat, which sits nestled on 20,000 acres of stunning Norfolk coastline.
David M. Benett/Getty Images
“My mum said, ‘I’d love you to come, I haven’t had Christmas with you for a long time,’” Parker Bowles told The Telegraph. “For the past 15 years, it has been: I go back to my ex-wife’s house, sit in my tracksuit bottoms, go to the pub while the beef’s in, then try to get my children to watch The Wild Geese. Classic. So this would be a bit different."
Adrian Dennis/Getty Images
Calling the royal Christmas "different" than a trip to the local pub may be the understatement of the century, but for Parker Bowles, the visit will simply be a long-awaited holiday reunion with his mother. As for the rest of the guest list, it includes Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their three children, and—for the sixth year in a row—does not include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Although, even King Charles's disgraced brother, Prince Andrew, reportedly got an invite this year.
"There hasn’t been an invitation extended to join the royal family at Sandringham this year," a source told Closer in regards to Harry and Meghan's snub. "It’s not surprising as they didn’t expect an invite, and even if one had been offered, they would likely decline."
Joe Giddens/Getty Images
Regardless of who shows up at Sandringham this year, Charles and Camilla will have to contend with one "rival" party, hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales. What's more, William and Kate might just decline an invite to the annual Christmas day lunch—if, that is, Parker-Bowles does indeed show up.
"The Waleses have often not attended Christmas Day lunch at the 'big house' at Sandringham, preferring the informality of a relaxed lunch at Anmer Hall, and they are unlikely to attend this year, especially if Queen Camilla invites her son Tom Parker Bowles," said a new report from the Daily Beast. "William doesn’t much like Camilla, despite having made peace with his father’s choices, and is made nervous by Tom’s somewhat louche lifestyle."
Read the original article on InStyle
