King Charles III and Buckingham Palace’s guards have been condemned by eco-warriors for their bearskin caps.
The tall Canadian bearskin caps are an iconic feature of The King’s Guards regiment which patrol the grounds of Buckingham Palace.
But now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has accused defence officials of “greenwashing” by using ethics scheme Furmark that’s “meaningless” to ignore faux fur options, reports MailOnline.
The King’s Guards are a group of five regiments in the British Army, which is coordinated by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
PETA senior campaigns manager Kate Werner said: “Instead of aligning with the values and morals of the British public, who reject fur, and with the example set by the late Queen Elizabeth when she refused to buy fur for her wardrobe, the MoD is aligning itself with an accreditation scheme that attempts to greenwash and justify the slaughter of majestic bears.
“PETA urges the MoD to end its complicity with bear slaughter and fully evaluate the faux bear fur so it can be quick-marched into service.”
The group says the Furmark scheme is being used by the MoD to give off the impression it is adhering to animal welfare standards.
In a letter to PETA last month the MoD’s equipment team said: “The furs used by the MOD are only procured via local Canadian suppliers with a ‘Furmark’ accreditation.
“This is a global certification and traceability system for natural furs that guarantees animal welfare and environmental standards, and in turn, ensures the ethical sourcing and sustainability of the fur.”
The MoD has also said that faux fur samples have not yet met the standards to “provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps”.
Last year a poll revealed that three quarters of voters considered bearskin caps – which have cost the taxpayer around £1million since 2015 – a “bad use of Government funds” with each cap costing £1,710.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation said the practice is “appalling” and that it urged MoD to use fake fur instead.
The group added: “We believe there is no justification to continue using the fur of Canadian black bears for the ornamental caps, when an excellent alternative exists.”
An MoD spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “Bears are not hunted to order for the Ministry of Defence and bear pelts used are a product of legal and licensed hunts.
“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.”
It also said that reductions in the number of bearskins procured would not reduce the numbers of bears being hunted.
