Travel
Sites
Visit
Goa,
Karnataka,
Kerala,
Tamil
Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh
in South India,
Delhi,
Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
Pradesh in North India, Assam,
Bengal,
Sikkim
in East India
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back
To:
Index
Page
NEWSPLUS
& ENTERTAINMENT & CINEMA
Buckingham Palace guards' bearskin
helmets may soon be history
London:
The British Government is reportedly mulling doing
away with the traditional bearskin helmets worn by
guardsmen on duty at Buckingham Palace. Baroness Taylor,
the minister for defence procurement, is due to meet
representatives from the People for the Ethical Treatment
of Animals (Peta) this week to talk about the idea
of using synthetical materials to make the 18-inch
helmets, worn by Guards regiments on ceremonial duty
at the royal residence. A spokesman for the Ministry
of Defence has confirmed that the meeting would be
taking place, but he has not divulged much of details
as to the topic of discussion. "The MoD is not opposed
to the use of synthetic materials as an alternative
to bearskins, provided such materials meet the requirement
for a high quality product that performs adequately
in all weather conditions. Regrettably, a suitable
alternative continues to prove elusive," the Telegraph
quoted him as saying. Robbie LeBlanc, director of
Peta, said: "This meeting is hugely significant for
our campaign to save North American bears. "If she
(Baroness Taylor) has a heart and can see the PR nightmare
of the MoD continuing to support the Canadian bear
slaughter, she can wield her influence and push the
MoD to scrap the bearskin caps sooner rather than
later." Comedian Ricky Gervais is also said to have
written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on behalf of
Peta, demanding that the MoD stop using Canadian black
bear fur for the helmets. The iconic headgear is worn
by regiments of the Grenadier, Welsh, Scots, Irish
and Coldstream Guards who make up the Foot Guards
in the Army's Household Division, responsible for
guarding the Queen. They have been worn since the
Battle of Waterloo, where they were taken as a badge
of honour by the Grenadier Guards when they defeated
Napoleon's bearskin-wearing Imperial Guard.
-Sept 1, 2008
Go
To Top
|
|
|
|
