King's Guard Fur Cap Costs Exceed £2000

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has spent over £1 million on bearskin caps for the King's Guard over the last decade, with each cap now costing more than £2,000. This 30% price hike from 2022 to 2023 is attributed to new contractual arrangements for bear pelts sourced from Canadian hunts. Animal rights group PETA has long campaigned against the use of real fur, citing both ethical concerns and financial waste, and has offered to supply faux fur for free. The MoD is open to exploring synthetic alternatives but insists they must meet stringent safety and durability requirements, which no current alternatives have satisfied. While Queen Camilla has pledged not to buy new fur garments, the decision on military uniforms rests with the MoD, which maintains that real fur caps are more durable and retain their appearance better than faux fur.