Queen Camilla Reunites with Ex-Husband Andrew Parker Bowles at Their Son Tom's Book Launch

Mar. 15, 2025

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.Photo:Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

Queen Camillaand her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles came together to celebrate their sonTom Parker Bowles' latest professional endeavor.

On Sept. 5, the Queen, 77, stepped out at The Audley Public House in London for the launch honoring Tom’s new cookbook,Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III. While there, she reunited with her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, to whom she was married from 1973 to 1995. The former couple are parents to food writer Tom, 49, and daughter Laura Lopes, 46, and the former couple reportedly share a friendly relationship today.

“They are joined at the hip. He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. He’s right in there. He was always, and still is, Camilla’s co-conspirator,” a friend of Andrew’s toldThe Sunday Timesin April 2023 when it was confirmed that Andrew would attend the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla the next month.

Andrew Parker Bowles, Laura Lopes 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

In a twist, Andrew and Princess Annedated whenthey were young (whichinspired a storylinein Netflix’sThe Crown) and the two are thought to remain friends today.

Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, King Charles and Andrew Parker Bowles at the Royal Ascot on June 18, 2024.Karwai Tang/WireImage

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Camilla was involved romantically with the futureKing Charlesduring her marriage to Andrew. The former Prince of Wales was married toPrincess Dianaat the same time, and she toldPanoramain 1995 of herself, Charles and Camilla that “There werethree of usin this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.” Before their respective marriages, Charles and Camilla dated before Camilla married Andrew, an officer in the British Army, and Andrew and Camilla asked Charles to be a godfather to their first child, Tom, when he was born in 1974.

Queen Camilla seemed to be in good spirits during the night out at the book launch, where she and Andrew were photographed standing together with her sister,Annabel Elliot, and their daughter Laura. Though he didn’t appear to attend the event, the King received a shout out, as well.

Laura Lopes, Queen Camilla and 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.Dave Benett/Getty

In a video shared to his Instagram Stories, Tom thanked his mother and her husband for the pivotal role they played in making the project possible.

“Thanks goes to the King and Queen, my mother, and obviously the King, without whom this book wouldn’t have been here. Without their support, their insight, their help, the rest of it — so a huge thank you to the King and Queen,” he said in part.

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 recipes mentioning the royal couple are included in its contents. According toits Amazon page, 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 critic. The Amazon page lists a recipe for “Queen Camilla’s porridge,” “The King’s wet martini,” “Buckingham Palace mutton pies” and much more.

King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a celebration at Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 3, 2024.Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty

Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty

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Queen Camilla’s appearance to support her son’s ninth book wasn’t included in theCourt Circular, the royal family’s log of past official engagements, as it was a private event. She appeared at the bash followingthree busy days of engagementsto support two of her patronages and to open a new cancer center at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, England.

Showing dedication to duty, the Queen was out the day after the book party, visiting RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire on Sept. 6 to meet service personnel and learn more about wellbeing initiatives at the military station.

Queen Camilla checks out counter-drone equipment at RAF Leeming on Sept. 6, 2024.PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty

PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP via Getty

source: people.com