Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's son, opened up about his intense health struggles on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast, confessing that he's gripped by the fear of dying due to suffering from hypochondria.
He candidly shared his constant battle. Camilla's son told the podcast: "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)."
Further detailing his experiences, he revealed frequent visits to his GP: "I do go to my doctor, who is a magnificent man, rather a lot, saying 'this is it doc, this is the big one.'"
Hypochondria, also referred to as health anxiety, is explained by the NHS as: "When you spend so much time worrying you're ill, or going to get ill, that it starts to take over your life. It's related to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)."
It's estimated that between five to 10% of the UK population may be affected by the condition.
Their website outlines several indicators to check for the condition, including: "constantly worry about your health, frequently check your body for signs of illness, such as lumps, tingling or pain, are always asking people for reassurance that you're not ill, worry that a doctor or medical tests may have missed something and obsessively look at health information on the internet or in the media."
Despite his concerns over common ailments like headaches and coughs potentially being serious, Tom has openly discussed making a lifestyle change due to a particular health issue.
In a candid interview with Vogue magazine last year, he expressed his desire to manage his weight before hitting 50, stating: "I was like: 'Right, I'm getting too fat.'"
Tom's illustrious career spans across some of the nation's most prestigious publications, having penned articles for Tatler, Esquire, Conde Nast, Country Life, and Harpers Bazaar.
He's also graced television screens, collaborating with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay on The F Word and is a familiar face on BBC show MasterChef, where he regularly critiques the culinary creations of contestants.
In recent times, he has branched out into authoring his own culinary books. His latest offering, Cooking and the Crown: Royal Recipes from Queen Victoria to King Charles III, sees Tom divulging 100 recipes spanning two centuries of Royals.