Bearskin

Presently, the Pipes and Drums Band of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is authorized to wear a bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial dress.[5][6]

The ceremonial uniform of the Belgian Royal Escort includes a bearskin cap.

Two units in Belgium presently use the bearskin cap, the Belgian Royal Escort (since 1938), of the Belgian Federal Police;[7] and the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers of the Belgian Armed Forces Land Component.

Until 1914, bearskins were worn in parade uniform by the "Régiment des Grenadiers" of the Belgian Army.[8] Bearskins were used in peacetime maneuvers until around 1900, the bearskins were left in barracks upon mobilization in August 1914 and German troops occupying Brussels reportedly took many as souvenirs. The Regiment of Grenadiers' modern successor, the Regiment Carabiniers Prins Boudewijn – Grenadiers has readopted this headdress for limited ceremonial purposes.

In addition to military units, the bearskin cap is also used by the Belgian Royal Escorts, a civilian police unit. Accompanying the monarch of ceremonial occasions, the duties of the escort unit were previously held by the Gendarmerie, a paramilitary unit of the Belgian Armed Forces that was disbanded in 1992. The present Royal Escort Unit wears the pre–1914 full dress uniform of the defunct Gendarmerie, including its bearskin cap.

The bearskin caps used by the Canadian Armed Forces are of black fur, and include a coloured plume on the side of the bearskin, and a gold-coloured chin strap. The Canadian Forces Dress Instructions authorize the use of bearskins for all of its foot guards and fusilier regiments.[9] Bearskins used by fusilier regiments and the Royal 22^e Régiment (R22^eR) also have their unit's cap badge at the front of the bearskin.

Bearskins used by the Canadian Army are coloured black and include a coloured plume.

In addition to foot guards and fusiliers, two line infantry regiments are also authorized to wear a bearskin cap along with their ceremonial full dress uniform: the R22^eR and the Royal Regiment of Canada (RRegtC).[9] Usage of the bearskin cap by the R22^eR is attributed to its historical regimental alliance the British Army's Royal Welsh Fusiliers,[10] while the use of bearskins with the RRegtC is attributed to the regiment's historical lineage to the Royal Grenadiers of the Canadian Militia.[11]

The following is a list of regiments whose members are authorized to wear a bearskin cap with their full dress uniform, along with the colour used on the unit's plume:

Additionally, the military band of a unit that is authorized to wear the bearskin cap are also allowed to wear it as a part of their ceremonial uniform. These bands include The Band of The Royal Regiment of Canada, La Musique du Royal 22^e Régiment, and the Governor General's Foot Guards Band. In addition to these units, the drum major of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada Band[note 2] are also authorized to wear the bearskin.

The bearskin caps that are used by the aforementioned Canadian units, should not be confused with the busby, a headdress featured on the full dress uniforms for Canadian Army artillery, and hussar regiments.[14]

The bearskins used by the Danish Royal Life Guards features a bronze cap badge.

The Royal Danish Army's Royal Life Guards review order uniform is a type of uniform used for special state occasions, and includes a bearskin with the bronze cap badge. Use of the bearskin in the Danish Army dates back to 1803.

Two units within the Italian Army's Granatieri di Sardegna Mechanized Brigade use the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform, the 1st Granatieri di Sardegna Regiment, and the 8th Cavalry Regiment Lancieri di Montebello. As opposed to real bearskin, the bearskin caps of both regiments uses artificial fur.

The bands of the Kenya Defence Forces: the Kenya Army Band, the Kenya Navy Band and the Kenya Air Force Band all use a distinctive white and black monkey bearskin as headgear on parade. They are the only KDF units to use such a headpiece. It is based on a pattern used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards of the British Army. The first of these bearskins were distributed in the 1960s after independence.[15]

Presently, one unit of the Royal Netherlands Army uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform, the Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment.[7]

The bearskin caps used by the Grenadiers' and Rifles Guard Regiment should not be confused with the busby; a smaller fur headdress used by the hussar regiments of the Royal Netherlands Army.

One company of the 1st King's Immemorial Infantry Regiment, which during ceremonies is authorized to wear grenadier uniforms of the Charles III period, uses bearskins.

Presently the military band of the Sri Lanka Artillery uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform.

Presently, the grenadier company of the Swedish Army's Life Guards wears a bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform. The bearskin is made out of nylon as opposed to real bearskin.

Usage of the bearskin by the Life Guards originates with its predecessor unit, Svea Life Guards. The unit was eventually merged with the Swedish Life Guard Dragoons in 2000 to form the present Life Guards unit. Usage of the bearskin with the Svea Life Guards dates back to 1823, when Alexander I of Russia presented Charles XIV of Sweden a bearskin cap as a gift to be used by the Svea Life Guards.

Several units in the Thai King's Guard use a pith helmet with a heavy plume, resembling a bearskin cap.

A number of units within the King's Guard of the Royal Thai Armed Forces wear a pith helmet with heavy plumes, making it resemble a bearskin cap. The pith helmets are used with the unit's ceremonial full dress uniform, for occasions including the Thai Royal Guards parade held every year in December, royal coronations, funerals and anniversaries. The colours of the plumes vary from black to pink and blue, depending on the units of the wearers, similar to the uniform facings in the Commonwealth. The majority of the units entitled to wear these headdresses are from the Army and Air Force, with two Royal Thai Marine Corps battalions also maintaining this privilege. In addition, the Royal Security Command's two guards regiments wear the pith helmet with black plums in their full dress.

Following the Battle of Waterloo and the action in which they gained their name, the Grenadier Guards were permitted to wear the bearskin. In 1831, this practice was extended to the other two foot guards units at the time. The practice was later extended to the other foot guard units of the Guards Division. Members of the following units are authorized to wear the bearskin cap with their full dress:

Along with these units, officers of fusilier regiments are also authorized to wear the bearskin as part of their ceremonial uniform. Additionally the members of the regimental bands for the five regiments of foot guards, the Honourable Artillery Company, and the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards are also authorized to wear the headdress. The drum major of the band for the Royal Highland Fusiliers is also authorized to wear the bearskin.

The bearskin caps for British foot guards are coloured black, with most caps made from the fur of a Canadian black bear.

The standard bearskin for the British foot guards is 11 inches (280 mm) tall at the front, 16 inches (410 mm) to the rear, weighs 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) and is made from the fur of the Canadian black bear.[16] However, an officer's bearskin is made from the fur of the Canadian brown bear as the female brown bear has thicker, fuller fur; officers' hats are dyed black. An entire skin is used for each hat.[17] The British Army purchase the hats, which are known as caps, from a British hatmaker which sources its pelts from an international auction. The hatmakers purchase between 50 and 100 black bear skins each year at a cost of about £650 each.[18] If properly maintained, the caps last for decades.

The bearskin should not be mistaken for the busby, which is a much smaller fur cap worn by the Royal Horse Artillery and hussar regiments in full dress. Nor should it be confused with the 'sealskin' cap worn by the Royal Fusiliers, a smaller furred cap that is actually made of raccoon skin.[19]

On 3 August 1888, The New York Times reported that bearskin caps might be phased out because of a shortage of bear skins. The article stated that, at that time, bearskin hats cost £7–5s each (about 35 contemporary US dollars;[20] £600 in 2007 pounds)[21] and noted "it can readily be seen what a price has to be paid for keeping up a custom which is rather old, it is true, but is practically a useless one save for the purpose of military display."[22]

In 1997, Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Gilbert said that he wanted to see bearskins phased out as soon as possible due to ethical concerns,[23] but no replacement was available at that time.

In 2005, the Ministry of Defence began a two-year test of artificial fur for the hats. The army has already replaced beaver hats and leopard skins, worn by some of its soldiers, with artificial materials.[24] In March 2005, Labour MP Chris Mullin called for an immediate ban on bearskin hats stating that they "have no military significance and involve unnecessary cruelty."[25]

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has protested against the continued use of real fur for the guards’ hats, alleging that the animals are killed cruelly. For several years, PETA members have held demonstrations, including one at St Peter's Hill, near St Paul's Cathedral, in 2006.[26] PETA wants the fur hats to be replaced with synthetic materials and claims that the Ministry of Defence has not done enough to find alternatives. In February 2011, Joss Stone appeared in a PETA advert targeting the Ministry of Defence, showing the 23-year-old soul singer holding a teddy bear that covers her naked body and features the slogan "Bear Hugs, Not Bear Caps".[27]

A drum major of the United States Army Band wearing a bearskin cap. The drum major of most American military bands wear a bearskin cap.

Presently one military unit in the United States uses a bearskin cap as a part of their ceremonial uniform, the 2nd Company of the Governor's Foot Guard of the Connecticut State Guard, a state defence force. The unit's bearskin caps feature a shield in front bearing the coat of arms of Connecticut, which is supported by a red and black feather plume on both sides of the shield. The bearskin caps used by the 2nd Company should not be mistaken for the busby worn by the 1st Company of the Governor's Foot Guard of Connecticut.

In addition to the Governor's Guard, bearskin caps are also worn by the drum majors of various United States Armed Forces military bands. Bands whose drum majors are authorized to wear the bearskin cap include the United States Air Force Band, the United States Army Band, United States Army Field Band, United States Coast Guard Band, United States Marine Band, the United States Navy Band, bands of the service academies, and a variety of other divisional and fleet bands.

In addition to military units, a number of civilian marching bands also adorn their drum majors with these headpieces as opposed to their synthetic counterparts. University marching bands which were established through military means typically follow this style of dress for their drum majors. There are also several secondary school bands that use real bearskin hats.

The Uruguayan Army's Company of Sappers of 1837 uses the bearskin cap as a part of its ceremonial uniform as the guard of honour company of the Uruguayan Supreme Court.

Select members of the Corps of Gendarmerie of Vatican City formerly wore a bearskins cap with a red plume as part of their ceremonial uniform. The ceremonial uniform for the unit was taken out of use in 1970, after Pope Paul VI demilitarized the gendarmerie, with law enforcement falling under the Central Security Office (later reverting its name to the Corps of Gendarmerie in 2002).