PETA pressures UK to drop bear-fur King Guards hats

PETA pressures – Animal-rights groups are pushing the British Ministry of Defense to replace the bear-fur bearskin caps worn by the King’s Guards, arguing the practice is ethically indefensible and increasingly costly. The ministry says alternatives are not yet workable for th

Outside Buckingham Palace and at major ceremonial events like Trooping the Colour, the King’s Guards are instantly recognizable. The bright red uniforms and the tall bearskin caps have become a visual shorthand for British monarchy. But behind the pageantry is a dispute that’s grown sharper as costs rise and scrutiny intensifies: the caps are made from the fur of black bears.

PETA says it’s time to replace the traditional headwear with high-quality faux fur. In an email. PETA senior campaigns manager Kate Werner wrote. “Each cap costs a bear their life. ” adding that. “With modern. high-quality faux fur readily available. there is no excuse to continue using bear fur.” Werner urged the ministry to “act and develop a humane faux fur cap.”.

PETA’s argument is rooted not just in the final product, but in how the fur is sourced. The group says the ministry purchases caps from manufacturers that obtain bear fur from Canada. where hunters are issued government hunting tags that allow them to kill an allotted number of bears and sell the pelts.

In a statement referencing a 2024 PETA video exposé. the association said hunters “often” bait bears with sweet treats before shooting them using high-powered crossbows. PETA added that “Many bears are shot several times. and some escape only to die slowly from blood loss. gangrene. starvation. or dehydration.”.

The pressure on the Ministry of Defense comes as purchasing decisions have continued. In 2024, the ministry ordered 22 new bear skin caps for the King’s Guards, PETA said. That number rose by more than 300 percent last year. when 96 caps were ordered. according to PETA. which said it was citing Freedom of Information requests.

PETA also argues the financial burden on taxpayers is escalating. The group said each cap now costs £2,361, or $3,166, and it called on the Labour party to instruct capmakers used by the ministry to switch to faux fur.

The ministry’s counterpoint is practical rather than symbolic. In a statement sent to MISRYOUM. Britain’s Ministry of Defense said it was considering changing the iconic headwear but had not found a suitable alternative fabric. It described a set of performance needs for the ceremonial caps—requirements tied to how the fabric must hold its shape over time and remain comfortable and safe to wear.

Any substitute. the ministry said. would need to be as absorbent and as able to dry quickly as the material currently used. while also looking as good as bearskin. Only if those requirements were met would the ministry assess a replacement in terms of sustainability and affordability compared to real bearskin. It also said “approval for ‘shape and comfort’ would also be required,” while pointing to historical links to the caps.

The ministry emphasized the design details that matter for the guards’ daily work. It said the current bearskin caps weigh about 1.5 pounds, with the fur covering a “lightweight frame,” so they are not too heavy for the guards.

At the center of the ministry’s justification is continuity: the bearskins worn by the five Regiments of the Foot Guards, it said, “serve an important purpose,” commemorating the history of the Foot Guards while representing the nation on a daily basis—making quality “paramount.”

The ministry also disputed the framing of the material supply chain. It said the bear pelts are the product of legal and licensed culls, sourced exclusively from the regulated Canadian market. It added that it procures the minimum number of caps needed to replace those that have “seen extensive use over extended years.”.

Bearskin lifespan is part of the cost debate, too. The ministry told MISRYOUM that the bearskins can last up to 20 years if maintained correctly, and that some bearskins have been in use for up to 60 years.

Animal-rights groups are not only targeting the guards’ caps, but also the broader royal fur footprint. Fur items—from crowns and hats to ceremonial gowns—have long been part of the royal wardrobe. Queen Elizabeth was known to wear fur for public engagements and overseas trips. and the late monarch even wore real leopard skin in her younger years. In 2006. she attended the State Opening of Parliament wearing a white fur stole with white gloves and the Diamond Diadem crown. made of 1. 333 diamonds.

The shift toward a fur-free approach began to take institutional form in Buckingham Palace decisions. In 2019. Buckingham Palace confirmed that Queen Elizabeth would not purchase any more real fur outfits. while noting she would still wear existing fur items already in her wardrobe. The move was welcomed by animal rights campaigners who viewed it as a step toward a more modern monarchy.

Two years after the queen’s death, Buckingham Palace wrote a letter to PETA in 2024 saying Queen Camilla would continue the fur-free legacy. The letter said the queen would “not procure any new fur garments,” a decision PETA welcomed.

That contrast—fur-free purchasing for private royal garments. alongside continued use of bearskin for a highly visible ceremonial uniform—sits at the heart of the current fight over what “modern” should mean in public life. The dispute now turns on a central question: whether the ministry can find a material that meets stringent performance requirements without giving up a tradition the public sees every day.

King's Guards bearskin caps PETA Kate Werner British Ministry of Defense faux fur Canada black bears Freedom of Information requests Labour party