Queen Camilla's Son Shares Update on King Charles' Health: 'He's a Tough Man'

Mar. 15, 2025

(Left) Tom Parker Bowles at the launch of his new book, “Cooking and The Crown,” at The Audley Public House in London on Sept. 5, 2024; (Right) King Charles at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on Sept. 7, 2024.Photo:Dave Benett/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage

Dave Benett/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage

Queen Camilla’s sonTom Parker Bowleshas given new insight into howKing Charlesis doing amid hiscancer treatment.

Tom, 49, gave a brief update about his stepfather’s health in his new interview withBritish Vogueabout his upcoming cookbook,Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. The food writer said that the King, 75, said is receiving “the best treatment,” but acknowledged that it was impossible not to worry about a loved one navigating cancer.

“Cancer, it really is a bastard,” Tom toldBritish Voguein an interview published Sept. 24. “The King’s having the best treatment. He’s a great man and a tough man, and you’ve just got to get on with it. Of course, anyone who has someone they love with cancer is going to worry.”

According toDaily Express, Tom said that King Charles' “treatment is going well” and that Queen Camilla is forging forward, too.

“She’s tough, my mother,” Tom said in the Sept. 24 report.

Queen Camilla welcomed her son and daughterLaura Lopesduring her first marriage toAndrew Parker Bowles, and they both stepped out to support a launch event for Tom’s cookbook in London on Sept. 5.Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles IIIwill be published in the U.K. on Sept. 26 and released in the U.S. on Oct. 22, and some of Charles and Camilla’s go-to recipes are reportedly in its contents.

(From left) Annabel Elliot, Andrew Parker Bowles and Queen Camilla at the launch of Tom Parker Bowles' new book, “Cooking and the Crown,” at The Audley Public House in London on Sept. 5, 2024.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

The upcoming cookbook will explore “200 years of British royal food, studded with anecdotes, delectable tidbits and nuggets of history, featuring 100 accessible recipes” from Tom, an award-winning food writer and restaurant critic for The Mail on Sunday, according to itsAmazonpage. The summary lists a recipe for “Queen Camilla’s porridge,” “The King’s wet martini,” “Buckingham Palace mutton pies” and more.

While the King didn’t appear with his wife at the party forCooking and the Crown, he has many official outings since his return to public-facing duties following the announcement about his cancer diagnosis. In February, Buckingham Palace shared that the sovereign was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following his treatment for abenign enlarged prostatein January. A spokesmanclarifiedhe does not have prostate cancer.

King Charles and Queen Camilla drive near Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Sept. 8, 2024.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

The King postponed public-facing work on doctor’s advice for three months, and resumedforward-facing engagementswith a visit to a cancer center (not affiliated with his medical care) on April 30. At the time, Buckingham Palace described the King’s treatment as ongoing and said future engagements would be amended as necessary “to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.”

Looking ahead, the King and Queen, 77, are gearing up for amajor tripto Australia and Samoa in October. The visit will be the couple’s first tour to Commonwealth countries since the King’s accession and planned as he continues cancer treatment.

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Braemar Gathering in Braemar, Scotland on Sept. 8, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

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The royal couple won’t stop in New Zealand (another Commonwealth country), as is typical for long-distance trips to that part of the world, around the King’s health. In the Julytour announcement, a spokesperson said that a New Zealand leg was nixed as “the King’s doctors have advised that such an extended program should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery.”

source: people.com