Queen Elizabeth II Did Bath Time in Her Crown, Charles Reveals

Queen Elizabeth II once conducted her children’s bath time while wearing her crown “to get used to how heavy it is” ahead of her coronation, King Charles III has revealed.

The monarch died in 2022 after 70 years on the throne and was known for her no nonsense approach to life.

Her eldest son gave an insight into her practical attitude during a recent meeting with a group of Canadian women who had traveled to London for Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.

New documentary Coronation Girls follows 12 of the original 50 coronation girls as they returned to London ahead of the king’s coronation in 2023 and during a tour of Buckingham Palace they had a surprise audience with the monarch.

In the documentary, Charles can be seen saying: “I remember it all so well now because I remember my sister and I at bath time in the evening and my mother used to come up one time wearing the crown to practice. Because you have to get used to how heavy it is. I’ve never forgotten, I still remember it vividly.

“It’s very important to wear it for a certain amount of time because you get used to it then. The big one, the St. Edward’s Crown, it weighs five pounds so it is much heavier and taller. So there’s always that kind of feeling slightly anxious. You have to look straight ahead.”

Both crowns used during her coronation are usually kept under armed guard at the Tower of London.

The Imperial State Crown is brought out yearly for the State Opening of Parliament and dates back to 1937. It features 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls.

The St. Edward’s Crown, which is twice as heavy, was made in 1661 and is only ever used during coronations, which has allowed it to remain intact for 363 years.

All crowns are treated as priceless objects to be preserved for the ages. For context, when Meghan Markle wanted to borrow her wedding day tiara for a hair trial, Prince Harry was told it needed its own orderly and police escort.

In life, Elizabeth echoed Charles’ sentiments about the weight of the Imperial State Crown.

During a 2018 documentary The Coronation, she said that during state openings of Parliament: “You can’t look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up. Because if you did your neck would break, it would fall off. So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they’re quite important things.”

Coronation Girls brought back together a group of Canadian women who were sponsored back in the 1950s to travel by boat to London for Elizabeth’s coronation.

It showed them reminisce about how their lives have changed on a return visit to Britain, where they got a tour of Buckingham Palace and received an unexpected visit from the king.

He also shared his own memories of Elizabeth’s coronation day: “My grandmother explained things to me while I was there. I can remember quite a lot—particularly what I was dressed in and what the barber did to me before.”

One of the women urged the king to visit Canada and he replied in typically lighthearted fashion: “I’m sure I will. If I’m still alive.”

The joke was made before he was diagnosed with cancer and was therefore no comment on his current medical situation.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about Charles and Queen Camilla, William and Kate, Meghan Markle and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.