For a long time now, rumors have been swirling about King Charles and his peculiar travel accessory, a custom toilet seat that supposedly accompanies him wherever he goes.
These intriguing tales first surfaced in Tom Bower’s unauthorized biography, Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles, published in 2018. According to Bower’s account, the king’s entourage fills a truck with an assortment of personal items, including his orthopedic bed, select furniture, specially chosen toilet paper, and the infamous personal toilet seat, especially when spending time at the country homes of friends.
Authors such as Tina Brown of The Palace Papers and Christopher Andersen, who penned The King: The Life of Charles III, have either echoed or elaborated on the monarch’s reputed travel desires, particularly the special provisions taken to ensure his comfort.
Additionally, royal historian Robert Jobson has provided insights into situations, such as stays at isolated lodges in Scotland, where Charles’ favored wooden seat was discreetly exchanged for his comfort, often igniting a flurry of activity to revert these changes before Prince Philip needed to use those same facilities.
According to Jobson, that happened at “Craigowan Lodge, a rustic stone cottage about a mile from Balmoral Castle.” King Charles, who was still the Prince of Wales at the time, “couldn’t stand” the “cheap plastic loo seat” at the property, so servants would bring “a wooden one whenever he came to stay.”
This has had royal fans wondering just what else members of the family absolutely must have packed when they travel. Here’s what someone who used to work for the king shared about that.
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler for seven years. Harrold’s duties also included valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. He looked after Prince William, Catherine, and Prince Harry as well whenever they stayed at Highgrove House. Since leaving the royal household, Harrold has become one of the U.K.’s leading etiquette experts. In 2025, he published his first book, The Royal Butler, which became an Amazon bestseller. He regularly appears on TV offering royal commentary on both current and historic news stories.
Speaking on behalf of Betway, Harrold told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “The royal family tend to pack for every eventuality. They look at where they’re travelling and prepare for all scenarios, whether that’s warmer weather overseas or the cooler conditions you can get in Scotland.
“One thing King Charles is known to take with him is his watercolour painting set. Painting is a real passion of his, particularly when he’s in Scotland, and it’s something he enjoys doing during his downtime … [Another] item that is always packed is a black tie, just in case there is a death or an occasion requiring mourning attire while they are away. The royal family have always followed the approach of being overdressed rather than underdressed.”
As for those reports that the king travels with his personal toilet seat, Harrold said, “The idea that King Charles travels with his own toilet seat is completely untrue. He packs like anyone else would, taking the essentials he needs for the destination and making sure he is prepared for different situations.”
King Charles also denied the toilet seat allegation when asked about it directly while in Australia.
“Is it true that you carry your own toilet seat when you travel?” a Hit105 host asked the royal at an event in Brisbane.
“My own what?” Charles replied, before adding: “Oh, don’t believe all that crap.”