Unbelievable: These Are the Royals’ Bizarre Bathroom Rules

The lives of the British royals are governed by strict etiquette, even in their most private moments. In addition to titles, curtsies, and official appearances, there are also specific rules to follow in the bathroom.

For Queen Elizabeth II, this included a strictly scheduled morning: At 7:30 a.m., her maid ran a bath while the monarch drank Earl Grey and listened to BBC Radio 4. The water had to be lukewarm and exactly seven inches (just under 18 cm) deep in the tub. Only after checking the temperature with a thermometer would she get into the bath, before styling her hair, getting dressed, and having breakfast.

It wasn’t just the late queen who preferred baths to showers. Princess Margaret and other royals also stuck to this tradition. Royal expert Craig Brown put it this way in an interview with “Woman & Home”: “Princess Margaret always took a bath because she and other royals believed that showers were for people who were in a hurry to get to work.”

Bathing is therefore considered a daily routine at the palace. In addition, there is a rule regarding language: The word “toilet” is considered inappropriate in polite conversation; instead, “lavatory” or “loo” is used.

If you need to get up from the table to use the restroom, you should not announce your intention openly. Instead, simply say “Excuse me” before quietly leaving the room. The placement of the cutlery on the plate also serves a purpose. If you haven’t finished eating, place your knife and fork crossed on the plate. After the meal is over, both should be placed diagonally on the plate, with the handles at the bottom right.

There are even rules regarding personal grooming in the bathroom: Members of the royal family generally do not wear beards on official occasions. Prince Harry was an exception at his wedding to Meghan and had received permission from Queen Elizabeth II to do so.

Buckingham Palace has 78 bathrooms alone, yet vacuum cleaners are not part of the household routine. The floors and carpets in the bathrooms are swept by staff to avoid noise. There are also strict standards in the washrooms. Reading materials such as cell phones, newspapers, or magazines are not permitted there.

White towels must be neatly folded and ready for use, and toilet paper should unroll from the top of the roll. Candles and diffusers are also not part of the standard amenities. When it comes to soap, bar soap is preferred over liquid soap, complemented by a subtly scented hand cream.

King Charles III also adheres to very specific routines. His travel essentials include his own toilet seat and Kleenex Velvet toilet paper, which he takes with him even when staying at country estates. In addition, there are rules for his daily bath, including the position of the plug and lukewarm water in the tub.

Former butler Paul Burrell also recounted: “King Charles III has his servants squeeze an inch [about 2.5 cm] of toothpaste onto his toothbrush every morning,” Paul Burrell said, according to “GoodToKnow.”