The Royal Family have an exceptionally busy schedule of official engagements, which take them right up and down the UK as well as to fair flung territories overseas. During every visit, they take part in a wide variety of activities, which can range from outdoor sports to grand State Dinners.
This week, King Charles is in the Caribbean, visiting locations including The Bahamas and Guyana before continuing to Antigua and Barbuda. On Wednesday (28 October), King Charles packed a pair of sunglasses and had a fan to hand, to cope with the warm weather as he joined a parade in Nassau, Bahamas (below).
‘The Royal Family tend to pack for every eventuality,’ says former royal butler Grant Harrold. ‘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.’
Grant worked with the Royal Family for 14 years, and knows exactly what is required in the suitcase of every royal – including one particular piece of clothing for an especially important (and rather sombre) reason.
‘One item that is always packed is a black tie,’ says Grant, via Betway. The reason? ‘In case there is a death or an occasion requiring mourning attire while they are away.’ For the women of the Royal Family, this would be replaced by a black dress or other outfit.
When the late Queen Elizabeth II found out her father, King George VI had passed away, she was away in Kenya and hadn't taken a black dress for the trip. Now, the royals always ensure they have something suitable in case the worst happens. ‘The Royal Family have always followed the approach of being overdressed rather than underdressed,’ adds Grant.
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The former butler also revealed that there is a rather bizarre rumour about another item King Charles II is said to always keep in his luggage, which he insists is a myth.
‘The idea that King Charles travels with his own toilet seat is completely untrue,’ says Grant. ‘He packs like anyone else would, taking the essentials he needs for the destination and making sure he is prepared for different situations.’
While the King might not bring his own toilet seat wherever he goes, he does like to pack a very different item, according to Grant, which relates to one of his favourite pastimes.
‘One thing King Charles is known to take with him is his watercolour painting set,’ says Grant, ‘Painting is a real passion of his, particularly when he's in Scotland, and it's something he enjoys doing during his downtime.'
