Beauty and the Bedchamber
The Royal Bedchamber
Historically, royals began their day of beauty in the bedchamber. Staffed with ladies whose sole duty was to prepare noble’s for the day. They might have very well been the first beauty stylists. Their primary job was to bathe, dress, style hair, and apply makeup. The bedchamber played an important role in an aristocratic’s day.
The bedroom has gotten a bad rap of late, which is far from its origins rooted in a time in history where royal lineage was everything. In the medieval era, sleeping quarters were a direct reflection of one’s status in life, and minimalism was a dirty word. Canopies, curtains, gems, and fine linens made up the literal high bed, which contained the astute dweller.
Power and status shrouded the bedchamber throughout the middle ages, and these important rooms served as a status symbol, much like a throne. Many are surprised to learn about the extravagant events that made the royal bedchamber so unique, but keep in mind that the rituals and overall pomp and ceremony of medieval bedrooms played a significant role in the making of history.
Common Bedchamber Rituals
Grandeur, ceremony, and splendor encapsulated the sacred bedchamber, and daily rituals made it a critical part of royal wellbeing, politics, and society. A few everyday rituals that took place in the bedroom were:
- The Monarch’s Lever or The Levee: A dressing ritual where a monarch would also be available for certain company while dressing.
- The Coucher: A time of retirement where visitors were able to pass by and bid monarch’s goodnight.
- Putting to Bed: A public ritual where the monarch was ‘put to bed’ in a state bedchamber for public viewing before retiring to a smaller bedchamber where they would actually sleep.
- Waking and Dressing: Noble ladies and monarchs were dressed in two parts after waking up. A casual and more intimate garment other than pajamas was worn immediately after waking up to receive visitors in the bedchamber.
The Power of the Boudoir
If you haven’t picked up on this concept until now, it’s important to note that the royal bedchamber was far different from the more practical modern-day bedrooms that we have now. The sleeping salon was outfitted with the region’s best silks, curtains, changing areas, sitting/dressing spaces, and lounges where serious political and social discussions would be conducted.
Many happenings in the bedroom were open to the royal court and teams of body servants were an integrated part of the sleeping chamber–so much so that some even slept in trundle beds in the same room. Not only servants were allowed into the bedroom. Many trusted friends, advisors, and family members also frequented this space that turned out to often be a semi-public area. After undergoing a dressing ceremony, both kings and queens held court in their bedrooms, which served as a more comfortable boardroom.
Extravagance was a direct reflection on the power of the monarchy, which means that no expense was spared for this very sacred space.
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Abigail Baker is a writer from Happy Writers, Co.