An animal rights organization advocating for the removal of real fur from the bearskin caps worn by King’s Guards at Buckingham Palace has raised concerns about the growing costs of the ceremonial attire. The Ministry of Defense disclosed that the price of the caps surged by 30% within a year, exceeding 2,000 pounds ($2,600) each for the hats crafted from black bear fur. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged for a transition to faux fur to eliminate taxpayer spending on caps made from animals.

PETA shared that a luxury faux fur manufacturer has proposed to provide the army with complimentary faux bear fur for a decade. While the military expressed willingness to explore alternatives that meet requirements for durability, water resistance, and appearance, a ministry spokesperson stated that none have fully fulfilled these criteria thus far.

The iconic tall black hats, worn by guards in vivid scarlet tunics, are a prominent feature during the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace and other royal events such as the annual Trooping the Color ceremony. The cost of the caps rose from 1,560 pounds ($2,035) in 2022 to 2,040 pounds ($2,660) in 2023, with over 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) spent on them over the past decade due to a contract change for bear fur sourced from licensed hunts in Canada, as indicated by the military. PETA highlighted that each cap necessitates one bear pelt.

PETA, which has advocated for eliminating the fur hats for over twenty years, argued that the UK’s Ministry of Defense is supporting the “cruel” Canadian bear-hunting industry by purchasing bear pelts for the caps. In response, the ministry refuted the claim, stating that discontinuing the procurement of pelts would not decrease the number of bears hunted. The issue was brought to Parliament’s attention in July 2022 following an online petition with over 100,000 signatures calling for the use of faux fur in the caps.

During the parliamentary debate, Martyn Day, a former Scottish National Party member of Parliament, highlighted the violent killing of bears in the Canadian hunting industry for their fur used in the caps. He emphasized public sentiment against the use of real bear fur in the caps, citing a poll where 75% of the UK population viewed it as an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds and supported transitioning to alternatives. Noting that the late Queen Elizabeth II had stopped purchasing fur for her wardrobe, Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, committed earlier this year to refrain from acquiring any fur products.