Drawing from Antonia Fraser's biography of Marie Antoinette, the royal family were not treated as common prisoners, but experienced a marked decrease in living standards.

At the Tuileries, the royal family was subject to a much greater exposure to the public who were largely mocking and jeering. Fraser notes how the Queen occupied a first level apartment which the public pressed their faces against. Despite the general disarray of the palace, the royal family still received typical meals, servants, funds and access to religious rites, political meetings and correspondence. Marie Antoinette, in fact, dedicated much of this time to educating her children, who were still largely seen as the pure 'Children of France' and hailed as such. They were, however, placed under the surveillance of the National Guard, which restricted their movements/activities. Following the attempted escape to Varennes, the social conditions of the Tuileries became more severe, with reports of the National Guard singing insulting songs in the Queen's presence and "mooning" her.

These conditions naturally worsened following the descending of the mob on the Tuileries on June 20th, 1792 and the transferal of the royal family to the Temple and its Tower. Physically, the royal family were only permitted four rooms within the Small Tower, which was a marked degrade from the Tuileries; although it did have a study and library, which indicates how it wasn't exactly a prison. Once moved, the Great Tower was refurnished with considerably more familiar decor, with 'green damask beds' and 'cotton curtains', although the windows were barred. The family now only had a small group of attendants, probably four, who proceeded to perform basic cleaning. Leaving their wardrobe behind in the Tuileries, the royal family still retained the funds (25,000 livres) to obtain things like dresses, stocking, bonnets, curtains, etc. Louis XVI was still able to get his shoes made by his favourite cobbler. However, the family was largely expected to handle the maintenance of these articles. Meals were still served in a decadent and liberal manner, with wine provided to Louis XVI. Basic pleasures, such as soap essences and nighly board games were provided. The damp and coldness within the Great Tower led to all of the family members developing rheumatic fever. Despite this, the Tower had a garden which allowed the family to gain fresh air and exercise. The family was also constantly surveyed by commissioners, who treated them with either stoic indifference or cruelty- such as Rocher who apparently blocked the heat from the fire and smoked his pipe in the royal ladies' faces.

In general, Fraser's sources give the impression that while the Tower saw a marked decrease in physical space, servants and grandiosity, the royal family were not ruthlessly denied basic materials. The main decrease can be seen within the increasingly cruel treatment of the overseers.