Tom Parker Bowles — Queen Camilla’s son — seems to have perfected the art of choosing Christmas gifts for King Charles. Long before Camilla began her relationship with Charles, she was married to Andrew Parker Bowles, Tom’s father, until their divorce in 1995.

Although Tom is not a working royal, he remains close to the family. Over the years, he has built a solid reputation as a food writer and restaurant critic — a career that has apparently made holiday gift-giving much easier when it comes to his stepfather.

Tom Parker Bowles shares his go-to Christmas gift for King Charles

The 50-year-old appeared at the Good Housekeeping Live with Country Living Christmas Market in partnership with L’Oreal Paris, where he opened up about what Christmas typically looks like for him.

And surprisingly, buying a present for King Charles isn’t as difficult as one might think. Tom said he has learned to tailor his gifts to the King’s tastes, referring to him warmly as his “stepfather.” According to Tom, Charles is a devoted foodie.

More specifically, the King has a particular love for dishes made with fresh ingredients.

Because of that, Tom revealed that his reliable, go-to Christmas gift for Charles is a bottle of really high-quality olive oil.

When it comes to Queen Camilla, however, the task becomes a bit trickier.

“My mother loves books,” Tom explained. “But she reads so much that I can hardly find one she hasn’t read yet. So, sometimes I’ll give her books — but it’s difficult. Or I’ll get photographs of the dogs or the children.”

Tom also admitted that even at age 50, he still receives a Christmas stocking from his mother.

“I still get a stocking,” he said with a laugh. “It’s mostly underwear, socks, and little things.”

Are King Charles and Tom close?

While not much is publicly known about the details of their personal relationship, everything Tom has said over the years suggests that he and King Charles share a warm and affectionate bond.

Back in 2015 — before Charles took the throne — Tom told A Current Affair (as reported by HELLO!) that he believed his stepfather would make an excellent monarch.

“All you want is for your parents to be happy,” he said. “And my mother is incredibly happy now.

“I’ve always adored my stepfather. He has always been kind, good, and genuinely lovely. He’s warm, intelligent, and full of humanity. If the day comes, he will be a wonderful king.”

Last year, writing for The Telegraph, Tom affectionately described Charles as “the loveliest man in the world.”

He added:
“I often visit my mother and Charles during the week. I even have a special high-security pass that lets me in. No, she doesn’t leave a spare key under a flowerpot.

“My kids and I know the palace police well — we just show the card, walk in, say hello, and have tea. For the kids, that’s perfectly normal.”

Tom continued:
“Charles — who truly is the loveliest man in the world, and I’m not just flattering him — knows so much about food and enjoys it immensely, just like my mother.”