Food critic and son of the Queen Tom Parker Bowles, has admitted that the worst Christmas present he ever received was from his mother.
The journalist revealed that the festive gift calamity occurred more than 30 years ago, in 1991, when he asked Camilla for a leather jacket like the ones he’d seen Marlon Brando and Arnold Schwarzenegger wear.
However, when it came time to open the present, it wasn’t quite what the now–food author had hoped for. Instead, it turned out to be a “monster” from a supermarket.
Writing in a column, the esteemed author said that after receiving the gift, he had to pretend to like it — and even wear it for the rest of the day.
Tom, 50, writing for You, said: “The worst present I ever received (worse than that hideous ‘Gin o’clock’ sign) was back in 1991, when I asked my mother for a leather jacket.
“I wanted a proper black one with zips and attitude and swagger: Marlon Brando in The Wild One or Arnie in The Terminator. I don’t think my mother got the hint.
“What I unwrapped was a toffee-brown Marks & Spencer monster, blouson-style with a naff tartan lining. Lovejoy by way of Alan Partridge. Worse still, I had to pretend to adore it and wear the thing all day long. The shame still burns as fierce as brandy-damned plum pudding.”
This isn’t the first time Tom has spoken about his mother, with the culinary commentator recently being asked whether he would like to have the prince prefix added to his name.
Tom, the eldest son of Camilla and her ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, told the Good Food podcast he would stick to his original name for fear of sparking a revolution.
Tom told the programme: “I tell you, that would be the quickest way to revolution. I think we’re a fairly balanced and sober and sensible country on the whole.
“But if I suddenly became a prince, I think that Buckingham Palace gates would be stormed. It would be appalling. I think that would put back the long and glorious cause of the monarchy in Britain by many years.”
Tom’s comments came shortly after the launch of his non-alcoholic drinks brand, Christopher’s — a line of cordials that he said had already won praise from his mother, who particularly liked the Sicilian lemon and redcurrant flavour.
Explaining why he started the business, Tom told the Independent that it was partly down to health and partly due to shifting attitudes within British society towards alcohol.
He explained: “There is a new generation and an older generation who don’t see drink as a day-to-day thing, which is a good thing. There’s more interest in health and mental health, in understanding ourselves and understanding our body.
“I’d never want a time when alcohol disappeared. But I think there’s a good balance between enjoying a drink or two, and having a couple of days off.”
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
