British lawmakers are calling for an end to the use of bear fur in King's Guard hats

Soldiers wearing bright red jackets and tall black fur hats in front of Buckingham Palace are a familiar sight to anyone visiting London.

But these distinctive hats, one of the most prominent symbols of the British royal family, have become increasingly controversial because they used real bear fur.

Now, a group of British lawmakers have called on the government to end the use of real bear fur in the ceremonial headdresses worn by the King's Guard.

Members of Parliament belonging to various parties believe that this practice is “impossible to justify” and that it should be replaced with artificial alternatives.

In a letter this week to Defense Minister Luke Pollard, 18 MPs and one member of the House of Lords urged the government to stop using bearskins provided by Canada's legal and organized killing operations, and instead adopt synthetic fur alternatives.

The lawmakers called on the Department of Defense and its suppliers to "proactively work with manufacturers to develop and certify a suitable synthetic fur alternative, consistent with the government's commitment to promoting animal welfare."

The letter noted that the continued use of real bear skins does not meet “the ethical standards of this era,” and demanded that new orders be halted until alternative materials are developed.

“As this process continues, bears are still being killed by arrows, their cubs are left orphaned, and their skins are used to make new hats,” the lawmakers wrote.

For its part, PETA in the United Kingdom, which is concerned with animal rights and has led several campaigns against the use of bear skins, stated that Freedom of Information data showed a request for 22 bear skin hats in the year 2024 and 96 hats in the year 2025.

In a campaign launched in 2024, PETA stated that “it takes at least one bear skin to make one hat,” noting that the 526 bear skin hats purchased by the Ministry of Defense between 2017 and July 2024 are equivalent to “killing a similar number of bears at a minimum.”

Following the letter from lawmakers, PETA UK renewed its call for a synthetic alternative, noting in a press release that the Ministry of Defense “must urgently allocate its resources to find an alternative to faux fur, and end the UK’s support for the killing of wildlife overseas.”

A Defense Department spokesperson told CNN that the department "supports replacing bearskin hats with a synthetic fur alternative, and we have identified five tests that any proposed replacement must pass."

The spokesman added that the ministry "would be happy to resume work with PETA on this alternative if the organization wishes to resume cooperation."

The five requirements established by the Department of Defense for any alternative must cover the following aspects:

The replacement material must also be approved by active guard personnel to ensure that it maintains its shape while performing official duties, as well as being safe and comfortable to wear.

Furthermore, the proposed substitute will be subject to evaluation of other factors including sustainability, affordability, and long-term suitability, before being considered for approval as a replacement for real bearskin.

History of famous hats

Bearskin hats are closely associated with the King's Guard, the soldiers who stand guard outside Buckingham Palace and other royal residences.

These hats are a prominent feature of official occasions and state ceremonies, including the King's Birthday Parade and the official opening of Parliament.

The soldiers who make up the King's Guard are drawn from the five infantry regiments of the British Army, and all members of these regiments wear the distinctive hat while performing their official duties.

The design of these hats dates back to the beginning of the 19th century, to make soldiers appear taller and more imposing on the battlefield.

The hats are made around a bamboo frame, and are about 45 centimeters in height.

With proper care, the hats can remain in use for decades, with the Welsh Guards noting that some of the hats currently in use are over 40 years old.

The British government said in April that each bear hat costs about $3,300 to purchase.

Based on Freedom of Information Act data, PETA UK estimated that the Department of Defense spent more than $1.3 million on bear hats between 2017 and 2024.