I am aware of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) ongoing campaign to replace the real fur used in the bearskin King’s Guards' ceremonial caps with faux fur.
Guardsmen take great pride in wearing the bearskin cap, which is an iconic image of Britain, and the MOD is very sparing in the acquisitions that it makes. That said, I can assure you that the MOD would like to find an alternative material to bearskin should one prove acceptable. This is a commitment the MOD takes very seriously.
Indeed, where sustainable, affordable and appropriate faux material exists, the MOD has used it; the busby caps of the Royal Horse Artillery are a prime example. However, those hats do not need to be worn with such regularity or all year round, in all manner of demanding conditions as the King’s Guards’ caps do.
Individual soldiers do not possess their own hats, rather they are cared for and shared within the Household Division and, despite their constant use, every effort is made to carefully prolong the longevity of each ceremonial cap. On account of this, they usually last for more than a decade, with some having been in use for as long as 60 years.
I understand that several tests conducted on potential faux fur products have shown that, while water penetration was reduced, it still did not meet the necessary standard, and performed poorly in the remaining basic requirements areas. In addition, the most recent test results, provided by PETA from an accredited testing house, have been analysed by the MOD. The analysis concluded that the fabric only met one of the five basic requirements.
Consequently, the MOD have not, to date, seen evidence that a suitable faux fur product exists to be considered as an alternative. Until that material is sourced and proven, I can assure you that the UK goes to great lengths to ensure that the pelts that make the King's Guards' caps are procured in the most responsible way possible.
Bears are never hunted to order for the MOD; the bear pelts used for the King’s Guards’ ceremonial caps are sourced exclusively from Canada and are a by-product of a programme to manage their wild bear population. Canada is a regulated market and a declared party to the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
A Ministry of Defence answer to written questions on King’s Guards: Uniforms on 25th January 2024 stated,
The MOD is open to considering the use of using human-made materials to replace natural fur items where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative. As such we are prepared to assess accredited testing results of material to establish whether a synthetic alternative could meet the Department’s requirements for a replacement bearskin cap material.
However, to date, and to the Department’s knowledge, an alternative has yet to meet the standards required to provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps.
You may also be interested in this campaign statement:
Animal Free Science - Ethical Research & Innovation | Mims Davies
