"French Dragoon Elite Companies" Topic

Did the elite companies in the French Dragoon regiments wear the bearskin hats throughout the Napoleonics Wars?

French elites were notorious for ignoring the abolition of their distinguishing features. There is some evidence that some companies d'elite were still wearing bearskins in 1814. However it is unlikely that any were around for Waterloo. As a rule of thumb I would go as follows:

1804-12 All units with bearskins.
1812-14 Some units with bearskins.
1815 No bearskins.

Only an opinion, but I hope it helps.

The bearskin for the line, both infantry and cavalry, was officially abolished in 1810, but as previously mentioned regimental commanders enthusiastically 'ignored' the official 'orders' and kept their elite companies, sapeurs, and trumpeters in bearskins. The official 'wear out' period for uniforms was unofficially extended by regimental commanders who did not like the new regulations.

This lasted as far as they could maintain them, through 1814. Some dragoon elite companies used the colpack instead of the infantry bearskin. And some dragoon trumpeters wore white bearskins, as did some cuirassier trumpeters. That was dependent on the regimental commanders.