The Groom of the Stool was a highly prestigious role in the royal household, responsible for assisting the British monarch with his toileting needs. This role was created during the reign of Henry VIII to monitor and assist in the King’s private rooms, including the bedchamber and other private rooms. The groom of the stool held a truly intimate relationship with the monarch, overseeing their personal hygiene and comfort, including helping them with toileting and dressing.
The specific duties of the groom of the stool varied depending on the time period and the preferences of the monarch. The groom of the stool was responsible for transporting the king’s portable toilet, analyzing and recording his bowel movements, and wiping him when necessary. The groom of the stool was in charge of all the activities and affairs of the king’s bedchamber and other private rooms, making sure the king was well-dressed and in good health.
Sir Henry Norris, King Henry VIII’s groom of the stool and close friend, held a powerful office as the groom of the stool controlled access to the king’s private chambers and was often approached by petitioners who wanted him to influence the king on their behalf. Norris’s son, Henry, was being educated.
The modern-day royal family no longer employs a groom of the stool, as it fell into abeyance with Queen Victoria, but her husband, Prince Albert, and son (Albert) Edward, Prince of Wales still had one. The groom of the stool was responsible for transporting the king’s toilet, analyzing and recording his bowel movements, and wiping him when necessary.
📹 This Unpleasant Royal Job Came with a Fancy Title
It may sound like an auspicious title; but the ‘groom of the stool’ was anything but. Simply put, it was a role that entailed monitoring …
Who wipes the Kings bum?
The Groom of the Stool, the King’s Aide Who Would Wipe His Nether End. A close stool like the one the Groom of the Stool would have transported for a Tudor king. The Groom of the Stool was the original bad job. Yet it was one that all noblemen would’ve died for. The Groom of the Stool took care of the king during his baths and had his ear. This court position was especially powerful in the Tudor period. Many aristocrats in England dreamed of filling it.
Does the royal family have someone to wipe their bum?
They wipe themselves now because it’s modern. In the past, the groom of the stool wiped them. It was the most important job at court. If Henry VIII had never had to wipe himself, he wouldn’t have found it weird.
Does the king wipe his own bottom?
Today’s royals take care of their own hygiene. The Groom of the Stool was an important court role. He helped the monarch with excretion and ablutions.
What is the groom of the king’s close stool?
In English royalty, the Groom of the Stool was a servant who helped the king with washing. The stool was a commode and help was needed with putting on and taking off expensive clothing. The Tudors made Grooms of the Stool important because they had access to the king. Henry VIII’s grooms were all knights. Sir Henry Norris was close to Anne Boleyn and was executed when she was removed from power. Sir Anthony Denny controlled Henry’s signature stamp and helped draw up his will.
Queens had their own ladies, and the office ended under Mary and Elizabeth I. So the last Groom of the Stool was probably Sir Michael Stanhope, who served Edward VI. He was hanged before Edward died, but it’s not clear if anyone else took his role.
Do royals have someone to wipe their bottom?
The Groom of the Stool was in charge of cleaning the king’s butt after he pooped. People wanted to be a Groom of the Stool. The king chose men he could trust to be relaxed while pooping.
Do the royals wash their own clothes?
The Queen has staff at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle to take care of chores like laundry. The laundry. Vacuuming. Washing dishes. When Her Majesty and Prince Philip were at Wood Cottage on the Sandringham Estate, the Queen felt so at home that she offered to clean up after lunch. The Mirror says royal life is normal and modest. Here’s an example. A former royal courtier told Harry Mount that the Queen sometimes helped with the dishes after meals.
Did queens have grooms of the stool?
Some women were also grooms of the Stool. Elizabeth I had one, but she renamed her the Lady of the Bedchamber and gave her the job of grooming and hairdressing the queen. Queen Anne‘s friend Lady Sarah Churchill was also said to be her Groom. Sarah Churchill was Queen Anne’s friend and likely her Groom of the Stool.
A late 16th-century text tells of a vivid experience in France.
What did Royals use for toilet paper?
The rich had more expensive methods. The French royals used lace, which was hard to make and expensive before the Industrial Revolution. British noblemen used old books as decorations. People also used their hands. In Europe and India, they used their left hand and water. Many countries still use this method today! In these cultures, it’s rude to greet people with your left hand. Some places in Africa use their right hand to wipe, so you greet with the left. Watch out for cultural practices. Don’t offend anyone by offering your left hand. Sheep wool is nice if it’s clean. Sailors used old rope or anchor lines. Native Americans used leaves. People in coastal and tropical regions used coconut husks and shells. People in the tundra used snow or tundra moss. Moss is good. It’s like a baby wipe! Vikings would use discarded.
Who is the current Groom of the Stool?
The last Groom of the Stole was James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (1838–1913). He served the Prince of Wales, but the job ended when the latter became King Edward VII. Originally answered: Does the royal family still have a groom of the stool? No.
What is the groomer of the Royal Stool?
History. Origins. The Groom of the Stool was a male servant in the English royal household who helped the king with his bathroom needs. It is unclear if the groom cleaned the king’s anus, but he was responsible for providing a bowl, water, and towels. He also monitored the king’s diet and bowel movements and worked with the Royal Doctor on the king’s health. The term “Groom of the Close Stool” comes from the toilet. It also appears as Grom of the Stole, as the word “groom” comes from the Old Low Franconian word “grom.” By the Tudor age, the role of Groom of the Stool was filled by a big figure like Hugh Denys (d. 1511). He was a member of the Gloucestershire gentry, married to an aristocrat, and died with at least four manors. The role became that of a royal treasury manager. In the early years of Henry VIII’s reign, the title was given to court companions who spent time with him in the privy chamber. These were usually sons of nobles or important members of the gentry. They eventually became the king’s personal secretaries, doing administrative work in his private rooms. The position was very important because it allowed the king’s closest advisers to see him privately. David Starkey writes: The Groom of the Stool had the most menial tasks, but his standing was the highest. Clearly, the royal body service was seen as honorable.13. The Gentleman of the Privy Chamber was the king’s voice. The Groom of the Stool was the king’s face.
How did tudors wipe their bottoms?
How did the Tudors wipe their bottoms? – Quora. The top servant would give the monarch a cloth. The cloth was washed and used again.
What did a groom of the bedchamber do?
There were usually about a dozen Grooms of the Bedchamber. Two were on duty at any one time. They served for a week at a time in rotation. They attended the King in the Chamber when he dressed and at dinner. They would also deputize for the Lords of the Bedchamber if required. Grooms of the Bedchamber were close to the King and sometimes went overseas to negotiate royal marriages. Some of James II’s grooms went with him to France during his exile. Similarly, during the last years of King George III’s reign, several of his grooms followed him to Windsor Castle, while others remained in London to serve the Prince Regent, later King George IV. When the Queen was King, the Groom of the Bedchamber position was not filled. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s husband, appointed his own Grooms of the Bedchamber. Charles II (1660–1685) Charles II (1660–1685)
📹 The Groom Of The Stool – History’s Most DISGUSTING Job
During the Tudor period there was a job that was so sought after that many people at court would have killed for it. The Groom of …
Disgusting in our modern minds, but as you noted it was highly sought after and offered a place in the Royal Court, with much rewards for those whom remained in the Kings favour. Disgusting jobs were Tanners, low paid & dealt with putrid methods to make leather. Many disgusting jobs were well paid but shunned by others, Gong Farmers being one.
Meh, it’s not the worst job that ever existed, though the perks almost certainly were the best. Just think of all the health care people today who do the exact same job for a wage. In fact modern caregivers have it worse as they often have several people they tend to in that capacity, and no one’s going around giving them houses LoL