End in sight for Guards' Bearskins?

Top brass from the Ministry of Defence are set to meet members of a charity that campaigns for the ethical treatment of animals. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) hope to persuade the MoD to ditch the practice of using Canadian black bears' skins to make the Guards' distinctive 18 inch high fur hats.

Prototypes of synthetic alternatives to bearskins have been tested, but the MoD has found that fake furs have not proved to be sufficiently weatherproof or durable. It is thought that bearskins were first worn by British soldiers after the battle of Waterloo in 1815. The First Foot Guards were renamed the Grenadier Guards after defeating their French counterparts the French Imperial Guards, who wore bearskins.

Bearskin hats are made from two separate pieces of fur. One piece is used for the front of the hat and one for the back. The pieces are then wrapped and stitched to a bamboo cage.

Independent travellers in London can hear about the history of the Queen's Life Guard with the Palace Trail, London travel guide. Mounting the Guard at Horse Guards and Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace are the two regular ceremonies most associated with royal London - and enjoyed by tourists. To make the most of the Palace Trail iPod travel guide take a look at our Where & When page which provides information about opening times and admission charges of key attraction along the tour's route. And information about the dates and times of Mounting the Guard and Changing the Guard.

When the changing of the Guard takes place the Guards leave via the Central Gate, which is also used on State Occasions. When the Queen is in residence, the Guard comprises three officers and 40 men, but when she is absent the Guard consists of three officers and 31 men. The whole ceremony takes approximately forty minutes.

The Palace Trail podcast guided tour concludes in front of Buckingham Palace. The Palace has 775 rooms making it the largest of the British Royal Family's residences.

There are five Walk Talk Tour London city guides. Each Walk Talk Tour London audio walking tour costs just £5.95. Customers buying two Walk Talk Tours at once will get twenty per cent off. Purchase three simultaneously and receive a thirty per cent discount.

All of the Walk Talk Tour London podcast guided tours are available in French, German and Spanish.

The Palace Trail, London city walking tour, takes in the highlights of royal and monumental London. The trail begins outside Westminster Abbey, where British monarchs are crowned. Walk on to the New Palace of Westminster - or the Houses of Parliament as it is better known. Hear about some of the differences between the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament. Discover which late iconic world famous British statesman is commemorated in Parliament Square. To hear an audio extract from the Palace Trail, London visitor guide, please click here.

Pause for thought at the Cenotaph where Britain's war dead are commemorated. Then walk on to Downing Street. Home of Number 10, the Prime Minister's official residence. Continue up Whitehall to Horse Guards, where Mounting the Guard takes place. Walk onto Charing Cross. Hear about the checkered history of the equestrian statue of Charles I and more.

Walk on into Trafalgar Square, which is dominated by Nelson's Column. Hear about some of the protests and celebrations that have been held in the Square over the years.

Walk Talk Tourists continue their podcast guided tour by walking under Admiralty Arch onto the Mall. Listeners to the Palace Trail audio walking tour then walk through St James's Park (London's oldest royal park) to Buckingham Palace.

With a Walk Talk Tour, London tour guide, you're in charge. No need to feel like a lemming as you traipse after the tour guide with the umbrella, or feel too conspicuous with a guidebook in your hands. Listeners to a Walk Talk Tour mp3 guided tour of London can stop, start and listen again to any part of their chosen tour as they wish - or as the weather dictates.

Why not do your bit for the environment and go walk about in London at your own pace and in your own time with a Walk Talk Tour? All of the Walk Talk Tours of London can be completed in two hours - with the exception of the longer City & South Bank Circular mp3 guided tour - but you can spend as little or as long as you want exploring the sights along each tour's route.