Thoseprecious moments of alone time in the bathroom are priceless tomany of us, andyet strangely enough, it was one of the few luxuries the King and Queen of Englandcould not afford. Until as recently as the 20th century, the British monarchy appointed what was known as the “Groom of the Stool”, a courtier responsible for assisting them in the performance of “bodily functions of excretion and ablution”. Andthiswasn’t the roleof any ordinary household servant. The appointmentwas offered to Dukes and duch*esses, Earls and Lords, Count and Viscounts– even future Prime Ministers of England, who willingly took ajob that more or lessentailedwipingthe King’s bottom…
Above left: John Stuart, Prime Minister of Britain and Groom of Stole to George III; Right:Lionel Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset, Groom to George I.
Close stool circa 1660,Pine covered in crimson velvet with brass nails via theMuseum of Kent
The‘stool‘ in the official title “Groom of the King’s Close Stool”, refers to the portable toilet or commode, which would have been nearby tothe King/ Queen atall times, along with water, towels and a wash bowl. The “close” implies that it was used in a closed and private room, with the exception of the groom’s presenceof course. It was one of the most intimate royal appointments and because it permitted such rare and uninterrupted alone time with the monarch, it also became one of the most coveted. While the groom’s primary duties were to monitor hisking’s bowel movements, assist with diet and even organise his schedulearound the head of state’spredicted bathroom breaks, he also became a powerful member within the royal court.
A close stool circa 1750, complete with fake drawers. Source.
The Groom of Stool became a man of secrets– the King’s secrets no less, and that was a powerto be both feared and respected. The earliest records of the position date back tothe reign of King Henry VII’s, who appointedHugh Denys of Osterley as his groom. His responsibilities includedensuring that the King maintained an aura of “royal decorum” while sitting on the crapper. (Pardon me, I’m running out of polite synonyms for ‘toilet’ here).
Left:Francis Hastings, 10th Earl of Huntingdon, Groom of Stool to George III;Right: Close stool from the collection at Hampton Court
The closed room had to have proper curtains, washing equipment and assistance would have been needed in undressing. While historians can’t confirm that the office involved intimate bodily cleaning, they suspect that it likely did, primarily to ensure the process was properly performed for the health of the monarch. (Just a reminder that toilet paper wouldn’t yet have been invented at that time). As you can imagine, the King and his Groom of Stool got pretty well-acquainted and developed trust for one another. Henry VIII allegedly confided in his Groom of Stool about his wife Anne of Cleves’ virginity, which he doubted on account of her‘her brests so slacke’.
All this “locker room talk” evolved intothe Groom becomingone of the closestadvisers of the king. Even the first recorded Groom of Stool, Hugh Denys ended uprunning the Privy Chamber and was a vital player in facilitating King’s fiscal policies. He married an aristocratic wife and died owning at least four manors. Queens had their own toilet buddiestoo of course…
Left: A lady’s closestool on display at Chateau Versailles; Right: Elizabeth Seymour, duch*ess of Somerset, groom of stole to Queen Anne
There werea lot of perks to the job which only improved with time. Grooms of Stools became like personal secretaries to the monarchy and residedwith themat the palace, living like royalty, dressed in lavish clothes, handling royal finances, all the while holding a job title thatimplied they were merely still on toilet duty. Under the reign of ‘Mad’ King George III, who went through atotal of nineGrooms,John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute was first in linefor the job. He later went on to becomePrime Minister of Great Britain. Talk about getting your job through the backdoor.
FAQs
What are the responsibilities and duties of a duch*ess in England? They have no responsibilities as such. But technically, they are there to support their husband, the Duke, and fill in when he is busy with other engagements.
Where does the king go to the toilet? ›
Where do kings and queens go for excretion? They go to the toilet facilities, just like you do. Their palaces planes, trains and ships have plumbing and kings and queens have private suites, with baths and toilets.
What did the groom of the stool do? ›
The Groom of the Stool was a male servant in the household of the English monarch who was responsible for assisting the king in his toileting needs.
What did duch*esses do? ›
Supporting the Monarch
She also accompanies The Duke to key commemorations and services such as the Victory in Japan ceremony at St Martin in the Fields. Her Royal Highness attends engagements such as State Banquets, religious services, Garden Parties and receptions.
What is Meghan Markle's royal title? ›
Meghan, duch*ess of Sussex (/ˈmɛɡən/; born Rachel Meghan Markle; August 4, 1981) is an American member of the British royal family and a former actress. She is married to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the younger son of King Charles III. Thomas Markle Sr.
What is the purpose of the royal family in England? ›
The UK Government has called the monarchy "a unique soft power and diplomatic asset". The Crown also occupies a unique cultural role, serving as an unofficial brand ambassador for British interests and values abroad, increasing tourism at home, and promoting charities throughout civil society.
Does the king wipe his own bottom? ›
Today's royals take care of their own personal hygiene. But historically the role of Groom of the Stool was a very important one at court, which involved being responsible for assisting the monarch with their excretion and ablutions.
How did tudors wipe their bottoms? ›
People would wipe their bottoms with leaves or moss and the wealthier people used soft lamb's wool. In palaces and castles, which had a moat, the lords and ladies would retire to a toilet set into a cupboard in the wall called a garderobe. Here the waste would drop down a shaft into the moat below.
How much did the Groom of the Stool get paid? ›
"[Also], Henry VIII's first groom of the stool, William Compton, was given land grants, land leases and offices by the king that brought him in maybe £2,000 a year, equal to the income of a leading nobleman or one of the richer bishops."
What is a female duke called? ›
A woman who holds in her own right the title to such duchy or dukedom, or is married to a duke, is normally styled duch*ess.
Prince Joachim of Denmark is past the friction that followed his mother Queen Margrethe's decision to strip his four children of their royal titles.
What is the daughter of a duke called? ›
Lady is also the courtesy title for the daughters of the higher-ranking nobles duke, marquess, or earl. The daughters of viscounts and barons are referred to as "The Honorable" (that is, ahem, “The Honourable”), and daughters of baronets or knights are simply called "Miss."
What powers does a duke have? ›
Dukes were the rulers of the provinces and the superiors of the counts in the cities and later, in the feudal monarchies, the highest-ranking peers of the king.
How do dukes earn money? ›
If the title is a landed one (meaning it's hereditary as part of an estate) then they receive the income the estate earns - in other words, they're the landlords if any tenants rent part of the estate, and they get whatever income comes from whatever the estate produces on its own.
What are the privileges of a duke? ›
The main privilege is simply in the title itself: a duke can be titled a duke while other people can't. A duke also has precedence over other lords, meaning he may be referred to as His Grace, while other lords may not.
What does the duke do in the royal family? ›
The Duke of Edinburgh is His Majesty The King's brother and the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He dedicates much of his time as a full-time working member of the Royal Family to championing young people and promoting the benefits of non-formal education across the world.
