The famous British guards, knows as the Queen's Foot Guards, come from several regiments in the British Army. They are most commonly recognised by their red uniforms, towering black bearskin hats and their commanding presence at Buckingham Palace.
The guards have been a part of British history for more than 360 years, and their distinct ceremonial uniforms are also remembered throughout history. The guards' hats stand approximately 18 inches tall and weigh around 1.5 pounds. The hats are made from Canadian black bears fur and it's reported that it takes one bear pelt to make one hat, which can last for 80 years if cared for properly.
Each regiment puts a slightly different spin on the famous ceremonial hat. One of the regiments, the Grenadier Guards, fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and their trademark hats date back to this era. They were designed to intimidate their enemies by making them appear bigger.
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The Grenadier Guards that are seen in official ceremonies have a unique way of wearing their impressive headwear. The strap for the hat is placed under the bottom lip instead of under the chin. It's reported that the decision to wear the chained strap for these headpieces under the lip comes from when soldiers actually fought while wearing them. If a soldier was shot, the heavy hat could fall backward and cause the soldier's neck to break if they were wearing a chin strap. Therefore, wearing their helmet straps under their lips would be less dangerous.
Another theory for why the guards put their straps under their lip is for one regiment to distinguish themselves from others serving the Foot Guards.
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