An ongoing campaign by an animal rights group is targeting the use of real bear fur in the iconic bearskin caps worn by the King’s Guards at Buckingham Palace. On Thursday, the group highlighted the rising costs of these ceremonial hats, with prices soaring by 30% in just one year.
The Ministry of Defense revealed that the price of each cap, made from black bear fur, has risen to more than £2,000 ($2,600), according to a freedom of information request by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). In response, PETA issued a statement urging the government to stop wasting taxpayer money on what they describe as “slaughtered wildlife” and to make the switch to faux fur.
A luxury faux fur company has even offered to supply the army with free imitation bear fur for the next decade, PETA said. While the military remains open to alternatives, they claim no faux fur has yet met the necessary standards for durability, water protection, and appearance. The iconic tall black hats are worn by guards during the changing of the guard ceremony and other royal events, making their appearance crucial.
In just the past decade, more than £1 million ($1.3 million) has been spent on these bearskin caps. The increase in cost is partly attributed to a change in contracts for fur, which comes from bears killed during licensed hunts in Canada. Each cap requires one bear pelt, according to PETA, which has spent over two decades campaigning to end this practice.
The Ministry of Defense denies claims that purchasing bear pelts supports the Canadian hunting industry, arguing that ceasing to buy the fur wouldn’t reduce the number of bears killed. However, critics, including members of Parliament, have expressed concern over the violent methods used in bear hunting and the moral implications of continuing this tradition.
Public sentiment also appears to be shifting. A 2022 poll showed that 75% of the U.K. population opposed the use of real bear fur, viewing it as an unnecessary expense. In the same year, Parliament debated the issue following an online petition with over 100,000 signatures calling for the caps to be made from fake fur.
Even members of the royal family are moving away from fur. Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, pledged to stop buying fur earlier this year, while Queen Elizabeth II had already ceased wearing fur before her passing.
This article by Trinity Sparke was first published by One Green Planet on 14 September 2024. Image Credit :Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock.
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