What The Different Colored Plumes On The British Royal Guards' Hats Mean

But it's the ceremonial function of the Royal Guard that captures people's attention — or, to be more exact, the kit. The dashing red tunic is unmistakable, but the bearskin is the most dramatic, even exotic element. Yes, they are really made of bear skin. Londonist reports that the Household Division sources about 100 black bear pelts from Canada every year for them. It's the perfect material for the clammy British climate; perhaps it has a primitive, totemic value as well, as it did for the bear-shirted Viking berserkers a thousand years ago.

The Royal Guards' bearskins aren't quite that ancient, but they are a hoary old tradition. According to the National Interest, the bearskin first appeared in European armies in the 1700s. Initially, only heavy infantry, often called grenadiers, wore the distinctive hat. Grenadiers were big men — Napoleon's Grenadiers of the Guard had to be at least 5' 10", per the Fondation Napoléon –  and the tall, shaggy hats made them look even bigger and more menacing. 

In Britain, the height of the bearskin climbed throughout the 19th century. At the time of the Napoleonic Wars, a British bearskin was only a foot high. By 1831, the standard bearskin was 21 inches tall; at certain points, it reached 23 inches for officers, which was so heavy and awkward it actually got in the way of their riding. Eventually, the bearskin became too impractical for modern combat, but the Guards have worn them ceremonially ever since.

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