**Before the festive season kicks off, Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker Bowles has candidly revealed why he and his sister Laura Lopes won’t be joining the royal family for Christmas at Sandringham this year.**

In a revealing interview with the *Daily Mail*, the food writer and author explained: “I’m not [spending Christmas at Sandringham]. Nor is my sister. It’ll be every other year, one year on, one year off.” The siblings, who attended the royal gathering last year at Queen Camilla’s personal invitation amid King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, have opted for a more low-key tradition—alternating between royal festivities and private family time.

This year marks a return to Tom’s pre-royal holiday routine: he’ll be crashing on the sofa at his ex-wife Sara Buys’ London home, spending the day in tracksuit bottoms, heading to the pub while the beef roasts, and trying (unsuccessfully) to get his teenage children, Lola and Freddy, to watch classic films like *The Wild Geese*. Laura’s plans remain private, but she is expected to celebrate with her husband Harry Lopes and their three children.

The decision comes as the royal family gathers at Sandringham for what could be an unusually intimate Christmas. King Charles, still managing his ongoing cancer treatment, will be surrounded by core members including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, along with Princess Anne and her family. Absences from Camilla’s children help keep the occasion more streamlined—yet Tom emphasized the arrangement is practical rather than strained.

The siblings’ choice reflects the realities of a blended royal family, where personal traditions coexist with official ones. Despite the skip, Tom has previously spoken warmly about King Charles’s resilience amid his health battle, calling him “a great man and a tough man” who is “having the best treatment.” He added that the past few years have been “a hell of a two years” for the couple, highlighting the emotional weight of illness and mortality.

As the King looks ahead to a potentially reduced treatment schedule in 2026, the royal Christmas will proceed with cherished customs: turkey and sprouts, church at St. Mary Magdalene, and the famous walkabout. But this year’s guest list underscores that even in the monarchy, family holidays are about balance—between duty, health, and the simple joy of quieter moments.

Will Camilla’s children return to Sandringham in 2026 for the next rotation? Or will this “every other year” rhythm become the new normal? The royal festive season continues to surprise, blending tradition with heartfelt reality.