Queen Camilla is not participating in family WhatsApp chat for a surprising reason

Queen Camilla apparently didn’t get into the family WhatsApp chat, but it wasn’t because of any animosity.

Just because, according to her son Tom Parker Bowleshis mother’s phone, an “old-fashioned” Nokia, is too old to fully support WhatsApp. In an interview with Woman and homeTom, 49, was asked if his family had a WhatsApp group, as many families do (including the royal family).

“Yes, my children, my sister and cousins,” Tom replied. “But my mom still uses an old-fashioned Nokia phone, so (she) can’t. I think it’s for safety.”

According to Time“For reasons of national security, little is known about the mobile phones used by the royal family.” Tom said that even on her Nokia he was unable to contact his mother, who is currently in Samoa on the second leg of her journey. tour of two countries in Oceania with my husband King Charles – because she’s so busy. He had to find out what she was doing by watching the news, he told the publication.

“She works a lot harder,” Tom said. “She always worked very hard, (it) still happens, I call my mother, she doesn’t answer. I watch TV (and think): “Ah! She’s in Jersey. »

Camilla, 77, who was married to Tom’s father Andrew Parker Bowles before their divorce and her eventual remarriage to Charles in 2005, apparently gets “quite angry” if her grandchildren put their phones at the dinner table, and asks put them away, according to Time. Tom has two children, Lola and Freddie, and daughter Camila Laura Lopez has three children: Eliza, Gus and Louis.

Although little is known about the royals and their mobile phones, his book Elizabeth: an intimate portraitGiles Brandreth said that Queen Elizabeth “She had her own cell phone and helpful grandchildren willing to show her how it worked,” he wrote.

“She understood text messages, although she found the apps somewhat frustrating. And under no circumstances did she allow her grandchildren to bring their devices to the dinner table,” Brandreth continued.

According to TelegraphThe 75-year-old king does not have a telephone and allows his staff to answer his phone calls. Mike TindallWho Princess Anneson-in-law, married to her daughter Zara TindallIn 2018, it was revealed that the royal family had a group chat on WhatsApp.

“I wouldn’t say we’re cutting edge technology, but for some reason WhatsApp is easier,” he said. “I’m in about 25,000 groups. You can do this as a way to get together and just stay in the group and have people post from time to time. You’re afraid to leave because you don’t want to be seen as rude.”

In October 2023 Prince William And Kate Middleton revealed their most used emojis during an interview with Radio 1 presenters Jordan North and Vic Hope. The Prince of Wales, 42, joked that he would have to think of a more PG option because his initial response would be an aubergine emoji.

“Is this a pure thing or a family thing?” – said the royal, laughing. “I was told not to say ‘eggplant’, but now I say – because it’s time for me to grow up – it’s the one where the eyes move up and down and the mouth is open. What is this? A little crazy.

Both North and Hope were entertained by Prince William’s comment of an eggplant emoji. “He said an eggplant emoji – it’s great!” North said and Hope added, “He knows. He has a dirty mind.”

As for Kate, 42, “Mine would probably be a heart with a crying emoji. Hysterical laughter when something goes wrong,” she said.

In March 2024, Prince William, speaking at the opening of a youth center, spoke to teenagers who said they spent too much time on their phones. The Prince of Wales told teenagers that “adults are guilty of this too” and added that people of different generations spend “a century on our phones” and “we need to get better at it.”

Except, apparently, for Queen Camilla, who apparently has that part of life figured out. She and King Charles wrap up their tour of Australia and Samoa on Saturday, October 26, and Tom tells PEOPLE that his stepfather “magnificent king”

“The King is strong,” Tom said of Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. “He’s doing everything he can. He follows doctors’ advice. Cross your fingers and touch the wood.”

As for the queen, Tom told PEOPLE: “My mother is strong too. She supports him in everything. I think it’s wonderful to have someone you love with you.”

He added: “I’m incredibly proud of her. She’s at the age when most people are thinking about retiring, but she never complains; She just gets on with it.”

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Tom’s new book Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles IIIhis ninth album, released on October 22, contains quite a few recipes, including Camilla’s. chicken soup recipewhich he called her “lunch staple.”