Queen Camilla's son lifts lid on secret health battle in candid admission

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Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 30/04/2025

- 16:46

The 50-year-old has built a successful career in food journalism and television

Tom Parker Bowles, son of Queen Camilla, has opened up about his struggles with hypochondria during an appearance on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast.

The food writer and critic revealed he is often "convinced" he's dying due to the condition, which causes excessive worry about health.


Parker Bowles made the candid admission whilst discussing his health concerns with the renowned presenter.

His revelation offers a rare glimpse into his personal health challenges, showing a more vulnerable side to the Royal Family member.

Queen Camilla and Tom Parker Bowles

Queen Camilla's son lifts lid on secret health battle in candid admission

Getty

The 50-year-old has built a successful career in food journalism and television, but has now shared this more personal aspect of his life.

Speaking about his hypochondria, Parker Bowles told Logan: "I'm a total hypochondriac, I'm always convinced that I'm dying of something, like a headache is always going to be brain cancer, a cough is always going to be lung (cancer)."

He added: "I do go to my doctor, who is a magnificent man, rather a lot, saying 'this is it doc, this is the big one.'"

His candid admission highlights the significant impact the condition has on his daily life.

Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla, Sara Parker BowlesTom and Sara Parker-Bowles separated in 2018Getty

The Royal Family member's openness about his health anxiety offers insight into a condition that affects many Britons.

Hypochondria, also referred to as health anxiety, is defined by the NHS as a condition that occurs "when you spend so much time worrying you're ill, or going to get ill, that it starts to take over your life."

The condition is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

According to NHS information, approximately five to 10 per cent of people in the UK suffer from hypochondria.

Tom Parker BowlesTom Parker Bowles works as a food criticPA

Signs of the condition include constantly worrying about health, frequently checking for illness symptoms, seeking reassurance from others, worrying that doctors have missed something, and obsessively researching health information online.

Despite his health anxiety, Parker Bowles previously told Vogue magazine he made lifestyle changes ahead of turning 50, saying: "I was like: 'Right, I'm getting too fat.'"

Parker Bowles has established himself as a respected figure in British journalism, having written for prestigious publications including Tatler, Esquire, Conde Nast, Country Life and Harpers Bazaar.

Television viewers may recognise him from his appearances alongside Gordon Ramsay on The F Word.

Queen Camilla and Tom Parker BowlesTom Parker Bowles is Queen Camillia's oldest sonGetty

He is also a familiar face on BBC's MasterChef, where he regularly appears as a food critic reviewing contestants' dishes.

More recently, Parker Bowles has focused on writing cookery books.

His latest publication, "Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III", features 100 recipes spanning two centuries of royal culinary history.

This cookbook showcases his deep knowledge of both food and royal traditions.