Peter from Total Bathrooms shares fun facts from his book, The Ultimate Bathroom Book. This week is about ‘the Groom of the Stool’, the royal bum wiper.
The Groom of the Stool was a highly important person in a royal household as the appointed person would have unobstructed access to the monarch. They would usually have administrative duties as well but would always be present after the king had a bowel movement to clean the royal bottom.
It wasn’t always a fabulous job though as Sir Henry Norreys found out to his peril. He was executed by Henry the VIII for allegedly having an affair with Anne Boleyn!