Real fur should no longer be used in the Kings Guard’s bearskin caps says Stephen Fry.
Stephen Fry has narrated a video calling for the end of real fur being used in the bearskin hats worn by the King’s Guard at ceremonial occasions. These caps were introduced by the British Army in the 19th century to make the soldiers appear taller and more intimidating when in combat.
The video was for the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and in it, the British actor, writer, broadcaster and comedian Fry backs their campaign for the real fur to be replaced with fake fur.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), bears are not hunted to order; rather the pelts are a product of “legal and licensed hunting authorised in Canada by provincial and territorial governments.”
However according to a BBC report: “A supporter of the animal welfare group made an undercover video which claims to show hunters putting down buckets of strongly-scented food as bait, and then shooting black bears with crossbow bolts when they approach.”
“By continuing to purchase caps made of black bear fur, the UK government drives demand for pelts and effectively incentivises hunters,” says Fry, who was a guest at the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III.
Main image: Trooping the Colour © Getty Images