PETA Calls for Faux Fur in Buckingham Palace Guards' Bearskin Hats Amid Rising Costs

PETA is pushing for the British military to adopt faux bear fur for the King's Guards' bearskin hats, highlighting a 30% price hike. A luxury fake fur maker offered to supply free faux fur for a decade, but the Ministry of Defence claims no alternatives have met their criteria for durability and appearance.

An animal rights group is urging the phase-out of real fur in the bearskin caps worn by King's Guards at Buckingham Palace, citing rising costs.

The price of the caps has surged by 30% to over £2,000 each, with the Ministry of Defence attributing the increase to a new contract for fur from licensed hunts in Canada. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), each cap requires one bear pelt.

PETA has proposed using faux bear fur and highlighted a luxury fake fur maker's offer to supply the army with free faux fur for 10 years. While the military is open to alternatives, it insists that no suitable replacements have met all criteria for durability, water protection, and appearance. The traditional tall black hats are iconic, worn by guards in scarlet tunics during ceremonies including the Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour.

(With inputs from agencies.)