Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want guards with bearskins today?

61 replies

Choux · 23/05/2024 07:51

Yesterday's changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace was cancelled due to the rain. It's our last day in London today so we want to see a guard in a sentry box today. A 3 yr old needs to see one.

There used to be sentry boxes outside St James' Palace but from looking at Google maps it looks like they moved the boxes inside about 10 years ago. Is there anywhere other than through the gates of Buck Palace that I can see a guard in a bearskin today?

(Posting here for more traffic)

OP posts:
Rubyupbeat · 23/05/2024 11:34

Bearskins have been fake for years

MissFancyDay · 23/05/2024 11:27

I hope you see them op. I remember when mine were little, they set their hearts on seeing or doing a specific thing and get quite obsessed.

It's a shame an innocent request for information is used as an excuse for being mean. It's what mumsnet used to be so good for.

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 11:15

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Oh yes, caring about animal welfare and exploitation is very boring isn't it?

DdraigGoch · 23/05/2024 11:05

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LakeTiticaca · 23/05/2024 11:00

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 08:22

Good.
I'm sure they performed their function of "guarding" perfectly satisfactorily without needing to wear the skin of dead animals.

Show quote history

They are culled legally in Canada. Speak to the Canadian government about it

Original poster
Choux · 23/05/2024 09:19

Ringpeace · 23/05/2024 08:41

The Household Cavalry will be at Horse Guards. Helmets, no bearskins.

There might be Guardsmen at Stable Yard on The Mall.

I just checked Stable Yard on google maps. The sentry boxes were outside the gates in August 2014 but have since been removed / moved inside. There are now police with guns who we chatted to yesterday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Choux · 23/05/2024 09:13

Thanks for the helpful replies. It's my nephew and I bought him a book and he has been looking forward to seeing them. Given the changing of the guard doesn't happen every day so isn't on today and @Runningupthecurtains says it's possibly still the RAF in the sentry boxes at the palace I think the horse-guards and possibly a beefeater will be as good as it gets.

He was disappointed yesterday that the changing of the guard didn't happen and he also couldn't actually see the king so whatever he sees today is already a consolation.

OP posts:
SorenLorensonsInvisibleFriend · 23/05/2024 08:54

TheTripThatWasnt · 23/05/2024 08:49

I'd go for Whitehall - the guards in red jackets with the big black hats have always been there when I've been down that way.

I totally get why your 3 YO wants to see them OP. I can well imagine a scenario where they've seen them in a book/on TV/whatever and you've said "when we go to London we'll see them for real" and they have got excited about that specific thing. And that's THE thing they want to see in London. That's totally normal 3 YO excitement. And yes, they will remember it. My goddaughter, who is 12, still talks about the day we fed the ducks in the park and they stole her pizza. That was a treat for her 3rd birthday. She describes the incident in detail, and we have a good laugh every time.

I hope you see them today OP, and that it makes your 3YO's day (week, month etc)

Thank you for a lovely, normal response rather than diverting completely away from the request and ladling on personal criticism (entitled!). I can see how it would be a big deal for a little one, too. The look is iconic and if they've seen it in tv shows and picture books, it's what London means to them - as much as we all might have things we'd be desperate to see if we went to different cities in Europe.

Tower of London?

TheTripThatWasnt · 23/05/2024 08:51

On the issue of the fur hats, if the fur is a natural by-product from the legal hunting of bears to keep the population down, I'd say that's better than huge amounts of polyester fibres made from fossil fuels.

TheTripThatWasnt · 23/05/2024 08:49

I'd go for Whitehall - the guards in red jackets with the big black hats have always been there when I've been down that way.

I totally get why your 3 YO wants to see them OP. I can well imagine a scenario where they've seen them in a book/on TV/whatever and you've said "when we go to London we'll see them for real" and they have got excited about that specific thing. And that's THE thing they want to see in London. That's totally normal 3 YO excitement. And yes, they will remember it. My goddaughter, who is 12, still talks about the day we fed the ducks in the park and they stole her pizza. That was a treat for her 3rd birthday. She describes the incident in detail, and we have a good laugh every time.

I hope you see them today OP, and that it makes your 3YO's day (week, month etc)

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 08:47

Ponoka7 · 23/05/2024 08:42

Their boots are leather, so plenty of dead animal skins abound.

@Therapy4all when you spend time and money to go to a tourist destination, it isn't being entitled to expect the advertised things to see and do, to be available.

Show quote history

I take the point about the leather.
But I think wearing leather shoes, which are functional, is slightly different from wearing animal fur which is being touted as a tourist attraction.

Ponoka7 · 23/05/2024 08:42

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 08:22

Good.
I'm sure they performed their function of "guarding" perfectly satisfactorily without needing to wear the skin of dead animals.

Show quote history

Their boots are leather, so plenty of dead animal skins abound.

@Therapy4all when you spend time and money to go to a tourist destination, it isn't being entitled to expect the advertised things to see and do, to be available.

Ringpeace · 23/05/2024 08:41

The Household Cavalry will be at Horse Guards. Helmets, no bearskins.

There might be Guardsmen at Stable Yard on The Mall.

StripedTomatoes · 23/05/2024 08:40

It might be a good day to start teaching your kid that life is full of disappointments!

campingwithdoggo · 23/05/2024 08:38

@Therapy4all not entitled at all, what a weird way to be unpleasant

JustMove · 23/05/2024 08:32

Therapy4all · 23/05/2024 08:27

Do you realise how entitled you sound?

Why does she sound entitled?

Therapy4all · 23/05/2024 08:27

Do you realise how entitled you sound?

worrieddaughter97 · 23/05/2024 08:24

"A 3 year old needs to see one."

Why? They won't remember.

JustMove · 23/05/2024 08:23

HolyGrapefruit · 23/05/2024 08:19

It IS real bear fur.

You might not get it at the CotG anyway as it's only one particular regiment who wears them.

There are actually five regiments which wear bearskins, not one.

Solidlump · 23/05/2024 08:22

Runningupthecurtains · 23/05/2024 08:14

On Tuesday the guard at Buckingham Palace were from the RAF so no guardsmens uniforms or bearskins.

Edited

Good.
I'm sure they performed their function of "guarding" perfectly satisfactorily without needing to wear the skin of dead animals.

HolyGrapefruit · 23/05/2024 08:19

It IS real bear fur.

You might not get it at the CotG anyway as it's only one particular regiment who wears them.

Flickersy · 23/05/2024 08:19

To go back to the OP, your best bet is to try Horseguards or Buckingham palace again

Joshski28 · 23/05/2024 08:17

At the top of Horseguards parade on Whitehall they are usually there.

JustMove · 23/05/2024 08:16

The hats are still made from real bearskin, despite what you may be told.
PETA have actually asked king Charles to consider wearing fake fur rather than the real deal at his upcoming birthday parade.
The fur is sourced from Canadian black bears and is a by product of legal and licenced bear hunting in Canada to manage the population of the black bears.

Swipe left for the next trending thread