LONDON (AP) — An animal rights organization is pushing to eliminate the use of real fur from the bearskin caps that the King’s Guards wear at Buckingham Palace. On Thursday, they highlighted the rising costs associated with these traditional uniforms.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the price of these caps has increased by 30% over the past year, now costing over £2,000 (approximately $2,600) each for those made from black bear fur. This information was revealed in a freedom of information request submitted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
PETA responded by urging the government to stop spending taxpayer money on caps made from hunted animals and to switch to synthetic fur instead. They also mentioned that a high-end faux fur manufacturer has offered to supply the military with free synthetic bear fur for the next ten years.
The military has indicated that they are open to considering alternative materials, provided they meet standards for durability, water resistance, and appearance. However, a spokesperson for the Ministry stated that “no alternative has met all those criteria to date.”
The iconic tall black caps, worn alongside bright red tunics, are seen by millions during the regular changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. They also feature in other royal events, such as the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in June, which celebrates the monarch’s birthday.
The cost of each cap rose from £1,560 ($2,035) in 2022 to £2,040 ($2,660) in 2023, with over £1 million ($1.3 million) spent on these caps in the last decade.
The price hike is attributed to changes in the contract for the bear fur sourced from bears that are killed in licensed hunts in Canada, according to the military. PETA highlighted that one pelt is needed for each cap.
PETA has been advocating for the elimination of these fur hats for more than twenty years, arguing that the UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) is supporting the “cruel” Canadian bear-hunting industry. However, the Ministry rejected this claim, asserting that halting their purchase of pelts would not lessen the number of bears killed.
In July 2022, Parliament discussed the issue after an online petition with over 100,000 signatures called for the use of synthetic fur in the caps.
At that time, Martyn Day, a member of Parliament from the Scottish National Party, stated, “The hunting involves the violent killing of bears, with many being shot multiple times. Therefore, by continuing to buy hats made from black bear fur, the MOD is funding the suffering of bears in Canada, making it a profitable venture for hunters.”
Day also noted that a survey conducted at the time revealed that 75% of the UK population viewed the use of real bear fur as a poor allocation of taxpayer funds and supported replacing the caps with synthetic versions. He reminded everyone that the late Queen Elizabeth II had stopped purchasing fur for her clothing.
This year, Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, pledged to refrain from buying any more fur products.
