The Queen’s Guard may have to make a significant change to their uniforms in post-Brexit Britain by no longer wearing their traditional real bearskin hats.
In 2000, fur farming became illegal in England and Wales under the Fur Farming Prohibition Act, with the last mink fur farms ordered to close by 2003. Two years later, fur farming was also outlawed in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
However, it is currently still legal to sell fur in the UK, a fact that may change in the next year or so following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
According to The Telegraph, George Eustice, the environment secretary wrote a letter on 9 September 2021 addressed to Giles Roca, chief executive of the British Fur Trade Association (BFTA), explaining that “once the UK’s future trading relationship with the EU has been established, there will be an opportunity to consider further steps it could take in relation to fur sales”
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If all forms of fur sales are banned in the UK, then this will mean the Queen’s Guard may no longer be able to wear their bearskin hats, which members of the army have worn since the early 19th century.
The bearskin hats worn by the Queen’s Guard are made from Canadian black bear fur and measure approximately 18 inches in height.
The Army buys between 50 and 100 bearskin hats a year. In 2008, it was reported that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said the Ministry of Defence had spent more than £321,000 on bearskins in the previous five years.
The hats are worn at events like Trooping the Colour, the Queen’s birthday, and the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
If the Guard are unable to replace their hats with new fur items, they may be forced to reconsider a fur-free alternative. The Palace has not commented on the proposed consultation ...
