A More Bear-able Alternative to Queen's Guard Fur Caps

In this day and age, would you ever have imagined that the iconic black fur hats worn by the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace in London are still made from bear pelts? It seems somewhat unbelievable that such a visible group would be stuck in outdated traditions, in the face of so many more modern and humane alternatives. Hasn't anyone at the palace ever heard of synthetics?

The hunting and manufacturing behind the traditional guard headpieces are appallingly wasteful and cruel. It takes as much as the entire hide of one Canadian black bear, which must then be shipped to the U.K., to make a single headpiece.  The hunt is not humane. Many bears are shot several times before they die; some escape, only to bleed to death.

Perhaps the best alternative yet to the furry caps was unveiled just last week by a team from PETA, designed by none other than animal activist and fashion superstar Stella McCartney. The plastic-fiber prototype has undergone years of development, including rigorous water repellency tests. In marked contrast to the ceremonial black bear fur toppers that have been worn by the Queen’s Guard for nearly 200 years, PETA's proposed caps, which they call Bear28, are lighter, more breathable and less expensive to produce.

Sounds like a logical improvement on all fronts, doesn't it? Despite glaringly obvious benefits, Ministry of Defense (MoD) representatives reportedly offered rather snarky feedback on the prototype, noting that it "lacks life" (why yes, thank goodness, it does) and "doesn't bounce back." Still, the MoD gave a green light for further testing. "Historically, England has a very high regard for animals, so it makes perfect sense that the MoD should continue shedding ceremonial furs from uniforms,” McCartney said.

Tell Peter Luff, the procurement minister for the MoD, to stop using black bear pelts for Queen's Guard caps.

Photo credit: roblisameehan