In medieval Europe, many royals were seemingly always on the move. Often, the entire court was expected to pick up and move whenever necessary — probably a serious relief for whoever last hosted the hungry, expensive crowd. English kings traveled less than their continental counterparts, but it was still a feature of court life in medieval Britain.
In royal castles, the king could have some of the most splendid bedrooms of all. In the 13th-century Tower of London, Edward I had an especially nice sleeping area, which has been recreated in modern times to show off the spendy curtained bedstead, abundant textiles, elaborate wall paintings, and dedicated fireplace that would have kept one of the highest-ranking people in the country nice and cozy.
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The flip side of having a royal castle is that it could also house annoying guests who took their time leaving. Friends and family of the king could stay in a royal castle at the whim of the king, with the local sheriff and castle constable under orders to look after them. This was an especially attractive option for highborn families whose protector was going to be away for an extended period of time and who wanted a relatively safe place to lie down their heads. Even noble prisoners of war could enjoy the relative comfort and safety of a castle bedroom. However, given the annoyance and expense of hosting people in the castle, some officials weren’t sad to see them go.
