(Image credit: Happy Beds)

T3 Verdict

Providing firm support and a suite of swanky finishing touches including a hand-tufted damask cover, the Happy Beds Ortho Royale is a dream mattress for those who like to feel deeply comforted and uplifted by their bed. Admittedly, the Ortho Royale is probably going to be a smidgeon too firm for some people – but if you like your mattress to be supportive, it’ll serve you beautifully well.

Reasons to buy

+
Firm, supportive feel
+
Pocket springs provide plenty of uplift
+
Lovely damask covering
+
Excellent value

Reasons to avoid

-
No trial period
-
Needs turning quite often

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By Pete Wise

last updated 30 January 2024

in Reviews

While it certainly doesn't look or feel like a cheap mattress, the Happy Beds Ortho Royale Orthopaedic Spring mattress is impressively affordable. Coming in at under £200 for a UK double, it’s less than half the price of some of its competitors.

In our Ortho Royale mattress review, we’ll look at the key factors that will help you decide whether this is the best mattress for you, including firmness, comfort and customer feedback.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: price

Available to buy at Happy Beds, the Happy Beds Ortho Royale is £204.99 for a single, £294.99 for a double, £339.99 for a king and £419.99 for a super king. Compared to other mattress brands, these prices are surprisingly cheap so if you need a budget-friendly option, this is the one to look at.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: Design

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: Specs

Mattress type: Sprung
Materials: Polyester, metal springs
Comfort: Medium-to-firm
Depth: 25cm
Machine-washable cover: No
Temperature regulation: Air vents, open-coil springs
Flip: Yes
Handles: Yes
Bed base: Any
Guarantee: 5 years

The Ortho Royale Spring Orthopaedic is a medium-to-firm sprung mattress by Happy Beds. It provides its support through a layer of springs, which have an open-coil design that allows airflow through the mattress, all designed to help you sleep better at night.

Standout features of the Ortho Royale include a luxurious 25cm depth, hand-stitched handles, and air vents to prevent buildup of stale air inside the mattress. The construction of the mattress incorporates satin pads, polyester and a damask woven cover, along with the all-important metal springs (not sure if springs are right for you? Check out our memory foam vs spring mattress explainer).

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Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: Firmness and comfort

Our reviewer found the Ortho Royale to be at the firmer end of the mattress feel spectrum. It really gives the sensation of 'taking a load off' your body (if it's too firm for you, you could always add one of the best mattress toppers to provide a more cushioned surface). The Ortho Royale has good edge support, meaning the springs seem to work well towards the edges of the mattress, not just in the centre. This makes the mattress comfortable to sit on.

With a hand-tufted covering, this mattress isn’t perfectly flat: rather, its surface is a grid of gentle peaks and dips. The effect of this traditional design will appeal to some people more than others – you may find that it helps you find the perfect space to snuggle into. Thanks to its layer of highly supportive springs, the Ortho Royale also offers plenty of bounce.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: What's not so good?

We expect the main reason some people might not like the Ortho Royale is its firm feel – something which other users would consider to be a selling point. Whether you get on well with this type of mattress is really a question of taste.

Another potential sticking point with the Ortho Royale is the requirement to regularly turn it. According to Happy Beds, the Ortho Royale should be flipped and rotated every six weeks to ensure optimal performance. The handles on the sides of the mattress make this easier to do, but we expect some people will find it a bit of a chore, turning their mattress eight or nine times a year.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: The small print

Whereas some mattress brands like Casper and Eve offer lengthy trial periods, which are reflected in the price every customer pays, Happy Beds has opted for lower prices and a less generous returns policy instead. Essentially, you pay less for the mattress, but if you don’t like it, you’ll have less scope to change your mind.

Buyers do have the right to return the Ortho Royale, if they notice it is damaged within 24 hours of delivery. We suggest you check the mattress over carefully for tears and other damage upon receipt. If you decide you simply don’t like the mattress, it may be possible to return it at your own expense, although the advice regarding this topic on the Happy Beds website is noncommittal. All Happy Beds mattresses come with a five-year guarantee, unless the specific product page states otherwise. This covers manufacturing faults specifically.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: Verdict

If you’re looking for a firm, traditional mattress with supportive, sprung comfort, the Ortho Royale would be a fine choice. Its benefits go far beyond its budget-friendly price – although the fact you can buy one at less than £200 for a UK double is certainly a sweetener. From its hand-tufted cover to its cooling air vents, this is a regally finished sprung mattress with an egalitarian price tag.

Happy Beds Ortho Royale review: Alternatives to consider

If you fancy something like the Happy Beds Ortho Royale but from a different brand, take a look at the Brook + Wilde Lux mattress. The fact here is that the Happy Beds Ortho Royale is ridiculously cheap and its unlikely you'll find a similar price tag, but the Brook + Wilde Lux is fairly close, in terms of springs and price tag.