As King Charles III and Queen Camilla released their 2025 Christmas card—featuring a warm portrait taken during their spring visit to Rome—attention quickly turned to who won’t be joining the royal family at Sandringham this year: Queen Camilla’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Although they are always invited, Camilla has not spent Christmas Day with her children for many years. Last year, after the King’s cancer diagnosis, she asked them to join her, and Tom spoke openly about how difficult the past few years had been for his parents’ health. King Charles continues cancer treatment, and Camilla recently recovered from pneumonia.
Despite the Queen’s request last year, both of her children will once again spend Christmas elsewhere. Tom confirmed that he and his sister alternate holidays every other year. He plans to celebrate at the home of his ex-wife, Sara Buys, following long-standing family traditions with their two teenage children.
Laura, an art curator with a private life outside the royal spotlight, will also celebrate with her own family. Though neither of Camilla’s children has a royal title, both maintain close ties while living largely independent lives.
Their absence from Sandringham is not due to family tension—only personal routines and blended-family traditions. As the royal family gathers for Christmas, Queen Camilla continues to balance her public role with her private life, even if her children spend the holiday elsewhere.