Why Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles hasn't been to a royal family Christmas

No matter how close you are to the royal family, it seems an invitation to the famous royal family Christmas is always just out of reach.

This goes even for the son of Queen Camilla, Tom Parker-Bowles.

The food writer told People his status as the Queen's son does not move him up the invite list, despite his mother's marriage to King Charles taking place almost 20 years ago.

READ MORE: Rift between William and Harry 'still as wide as ever'

"We are married in, we are not the royal family – I've never for one second said that," the 49-year-old said.

"I find everyone incredibly nice and friendly and we've known them all for a long time. It does seem natural."

But after rumours he spent last Christmas with his stepfather King Charles and his family, he wants to clarify that he has not yet had a royal Christmas.

"That's not to say myself and the children spend running around palaces. I have my own job and the children have school. I haven't been to Christmas yet for various reasons," he shared

Parker-Bowles revealed that he and his family – including his sister Laura Lopes, daughter Lola, 17, and son Freddy, 14, whom he shares with his ex-wife Sara Buys – instead have a separate Christmas celebration with Queen Camilla and her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles.

READ MORE: A simple dog game can prevent deadly condition

"My mother and father are still great friends, and we will go down on December 27 and my mother will sometimes come," the food critic said.

"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," he said.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.