Queen Elizabeth II reportedly relied on one simple bedroom rule to stay cool during her annual holidays at Balmoral Castle: keeping the windows open all night. Former royal butler Paul Burrell revealed that the late monarch insisted on keeping her bedroom windows open throughout her stay in the Scottish Highlands, even when the weather turned colder later in the season.
Fresh Highland Air Every Night
Burrell stated that the Queen "loved the fact that her bedroom windows were open every night and she would get the fresh air from the Highlands." He added that from August until early October, she "never" shut them. When the nights became very cold, she layered up with extra sheets, blankets, and eiderdowns rather than closing the windows.
Expert Advice on Cooling
The habit mirrors advice from heating and cooling specialists. Angus Struthers, managing director of BOXT, noted that opening windows when the outside temperature is higher than indoors just lets more heat in. He recommends keeping windows closed during the hottest part of the day and opening them in the evening once outdoor temperatures drop.
Other Evening Habits
The Queen typically went to bed around 11pm and woke at about 7.30am, giving around eight-and-a-half hours of sleep. On rare sleepless nights, a former royal guardsman recalled seeing her walking the palace grounds late at night. After he challenged an unidentified figure, realizing it was the monarch, he joked about nearly shooting her. The Queen replied with humour: "That's quite all right. Next time I'll ring through beforehand so you don't have to shoot me."
Balmoral Castle was the Queen's preferred summer retreat, where this simple bedtime routine became one of the many traditions she maintained throughout her reign.
