Stephen Fry campaigns against use of real fur in King's Guard bearskin caps
Stephen Fry is urging an end to the use of real fur in the bearskin caps worn by the King's Guard during duties like guarding Buckingham Palace.
The actor, comedian, author and presenter supports an animal welfare campaign advocating the use of fake fur instead of real bear fur.
Mr Fry said: "Tradition is never an excuse for cruelty, which is why I'm joining the call for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to stop using the fur of slaughtered wildlife and make the switch to humane faux fur for the King's Guard's caps."
The distinctive headpieces, made from the fur of the North American black bear, are a prominent feature of the ceremonial uniforms worn by the King's Guard.
Mr Fry has narrated a video of an undercover investigation into the killing of black bears in Canada produced by the animal rights group PETA.
A MOD spokesperson said: "Bears are not hunted to order for the Ministry of Defence and bear pelts used are a product of legal and licensed hunts."
Currently, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal Welfare Committee are investigating fur imports into the UK, focusing on ethical considerations.
Contrary to misconceptions, bear pelts used in the King's Guard bearskin caps are not sourced through hunts ordered by the MOD.
Instead, they come from legal and licensed hunts authorised by the Canadian government for wildlife population management.
These bear pelts strictly adhere to the convention on international trade in endangered species.
Importantly, reducing ceremonial bearskin procurement won't impact the number of bears hunted, emphasising the commitment to responsible wildlife management and conservation.
As the collaboration continues, Defra aims to ensure transparency and ethical fur use standards in the UK.
However, Mr Fry argues that there are faux fur alternatives available that would look the same, as well as satisfy all of the MOD's requirements such as having water-repellent qualities.
The MOD disagrees, saying: "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."
The bearskin holds a revered status, not only within the military but as a symbol deeply embedded in British culture.
Notable scrutiny
Yet, its existence has faced scrutiny from animal rights advocates, with notable figures such as Pamela Anderson penning a letter to Boris Johnson in 2021.
In the Baywatch actor's letter, she urged the then Prime Minister to consider a humane alternative to replace the bearskin caps worn by the Queen's Guard.
The UK is not the only country to have retained the tradition of using real fur instead of moving towards synthetic furs.
There are more than 10 nations where bearskins are still part of the ceremonial uniform.
In a noteworthy departure from tradition, Italy and Sweden have paved the way by changing to faux fur. As fervent campaigning groups continue to exert renewed pressure on the MOD, perhaps the days of the traditional bearskin on military parades in the UK may be drawing to a close.
If Mr Fry's assertion holds, and faux fur is indistinguishable from its animal version, the change might pass unnoticed.
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