The British Army's use of the bearskin hats dates back to the Battle of Waterloo on in 1815, when Wellington's army defeated the French Imperial Guard in a victory that marked Napoleon's downfall.

To commemorate their victory, the British adopted similar hats for the soldiers who guard royal residences. The standard bearskin cap of the Foot Guards is 18 inches, yet weighs just 1.5 pounds.

Bearskin hats require careful looking after, so they are only given to these specific guards. The Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards are the only foot guards in the British army ...

admits it is 'open' to exploring fake fur alternatives as traditional bearskin caps worn by the King's Guard are revealed to cost more than £2,000 each. A central feature of the King's Guard ...