The royal family abide by all kinds of etiquette rules when they're out on public engagements or entertaining guests at royal residences.
Even when they're relaxing in the comfort of their own home, it seems no room is out of bounds from being regulated, and that apparently includes the bathroom. Along with being banned from even referring to the bathroom as the 'toilet', King Charles is said to follow a set of strange rules in the lavatory.
Read on to find the commonplace items that are claimed to be banned from the royal bathrooms and the formal way the royals have to excuse themselves from the table.
© Getty ImagesBizarre bathroom rules
You apparently won't catch the royals relaxing in the bath with a book or burning candles. According to a list of royal bathroom etiquette rules complied by Express, reading materials and scented candles are a no go. Having a book or newspaper by the bathroom is said to be considered "unhygienic".
When it comes to keeping the space immaculate, there's one everyday cleaning device that reportedly won't make it past the bathroom door in royal residences. Apparently staff aren't allowed to vacuum so as not to disturb the royals.
The royals are also said to favour taking baths over showers, the reason being that royals such as Princess Margaret were said to view bathing as more "elegant".
© Getty ImagesHowever, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden once seemed to not be a fan due to the water usage. "We should ban all baths, imagine that," the royal suggested to Svenska Dagbladet newspaper during an interview in 2015 when asked for thoughts on how to conserve energy.
He recalled having to run a bath when he was staying somewhere without a shower, and realised how much water and energy it used.
"I thought, 'I can’t believe I’m having to do this'. I felt quite ashamed," the told the publication.
Embarrassing word the royals are banned from using
© Getty ImagesSocial anthropologist Kate Fox, author of Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour, and who has studied the linguistic quirks of the upper classes, previously told HELLO! that the members of the royal family never use the word 'toilet', instead preferring 'lavatory' or 'loo'.
Kate explained to us that the royals historically avoided using 'toilet' because of its French origins. The word comes from "toilette", which used to refer to a room for dressing and getting ready.
Along with having strict words for the bathroom, Kate explained that the royals will say 'smart' rather than 'posh', which would only ever be used "ironically, in a jokey tone, to show that you know it's a low-class word".
Other words the royals avoid, according to the expert, include 'lounge', 'tea' when referring to their evening meal, and 'pardon'.
