From Speedos to an alarm clock: soldiers reveal the VERY unusual items they hide in their iconic bearskins as campaigners demand they are replaced with faux fur

Former King's Guards have revealed that the long bearskins worn by guardsmen are 'multifunctional' and can hide something from public view.

In letters to The Times, Michael Scott, formerly of the Scots Guards, and William McLean, formerly of the Coldstream Guards, Eyton on Severn, in Shropshire, have revealed what they used to hide under their bearskin caps.

Mr Scott recalled having to wear a pair of wet Speedos under his hat, while Mr McLean was left shocked after a fellow soldier hid an alarm clock under his bare skin.

The hats, which can be traced back to the Napoleonic Wars, were worn by every rifleman in the British and French armies to make them appear larger and more intimidating.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, rides through The Mall during the Trooping the Color on June 17, 2023 in London, England

Members of Napoleon's Imperial Guard wore the caps to mark their high status and when British forces defeated Napoleon's at the Battle of Waterloo, they took the hats with them as trophies. Today, the use of the bearskin has been adopted by all foot protectors for ceremonial purposes.

Writing in The Times newspaper, Mr Scott revealed: 'While on King's Guard at St James's Palace, two of the three officers on duty are allowed to swim in the indoor pool at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall.

'To go there, they must be well dressed in bearskin, tunic and sword. But of course it is not allowed to transport a package.'

Instead, Mr Scott said watchmen had to take their swimsuits with them and then hide “their Speedos” in their bearskin caps for the return journey, which he said could sometimes “cause problems”.

Mr McLean recalled a time when he was doing his first guard duty at the Tower of London and making his tour of the sentries in the early hours.

'It was eerily quiet, the mist drifting up from the Thames through the Traitors' Gate; “Visions of headless corpses emerging from behind a turret were in the mind,” he told The Times.

Eager to “test his fortitude,” he said, a fellow officer hid a small alarm clock in his bearskin and as he walked around the Traitor's Gate the alarm went off, startling him.

Mr McLean added: 'It was good training for a tour six months later in South Armagh, at the height of the Troubles.'

Members of the King's Guard march down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace ahead of the State Opening of Parliament on November 7, 2023

Irish Guards and 'Semus' (bottom centre) their Irish Wolfhound, seen here at Wellington Barracks in London, before taking part in the King's Coronation Procession

Animal rights organization PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been campaigning since 2002 to replace the caps' fur with a synthetic substitute, condemning the Department of Defense's alleged “support for the slaughter of Canadian black bears.”

They threatened the Ministry of Defense with legal action in succession in 2022 over replacing the King's Guards' bearskin caps with an alternative to faux fur.

The Defense Department promised to drop fur once an alternative is found, but recently said that “no faux fur meets the standards to provide an effective replacement.”

However, PETA says they have collaborated with luxury faux fur manufacturer ECOPEL to develop a suitable material that is waterproof and mimics real bear fur in both appearance and performance.

But the Ministry of Defense has claimed that 'although samples of faux fur have been submitted for testing in the past, and to the Department's knowledge, no sample of faux fur has to date been produced that meets the standards required to to provide an effective replacement for the ceremonial bear skin. capital letters.'

In a letter to PETA in November 2023, the Department of Defense equipment team defended the use of fur, saying: 'The furs used by the Department of Defense are only obtained through local Canadian suppliers with a 'Furmark' accreditation.

'This is a global certification and traceability system for natural fur that ensures animal welfare and environmental standards, and in turn guarantees the ethical sourcing and sustainability of the fur.'

The Warrant Officer of a Grenadier Guard waits with a ceremonial guard formed by Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery

Members of the public take photos of King's Guard soldiers marching outside Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth's funeral ceremonies in central London on Monday, September 19, 2022

But campaigners suggested the accreditation is just “yet another attempt at greenwashing”. In 2021, Respect for Animals concluded in a report: 'Furmark® – the fur industry's 'certification', traceability and labeling system – lacks transparency and credibility and fails to address the environmental impacts of the fur industry.'

Senior Campaigns Manager Kate Werner said: 'Rather than aligning with the values ​​and morals of the British public who reject fur, and following the example of the late Queen Elizabeth when she refused to buy fur for her wardrobe, the Ministry is closing of Defense adheres. with an accreditation system that attempts to greenwash and justify the slaughter of majestic bears.

“PETA urges the Department of Defense to end its complicity in the bear slaughter and fully evaluate the counterfeit bear fur so it can be quickly put into use.”

In October 2023, the group created 498 cutouts depicting the Canadian black bears that have been killed since PETA and ECOPEL made their faux fur offering in 2017.

A 2022 poll found that three-quarters of voters considered bearskin hats – which have cost taxpayers around £1 million since 2015 – a 'poor use of public money', with each cap costing £1,710.