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New hats could end Guards' use of fur
The Ministry of Defence will meet an animal rights group this week to discuss ethical alternatives to the bearskin hats worn by guards at Buckingham Palace.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) will suggest new designs to replace the traditional 18in-tall fur hats.
The charity has previously discussed making a similar hat using fake fur but said the MoD was not happy with prototypes.
Now it is proposing a new shape is adopted and has approached designers including Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney and Marc Bouwer.
Robbie LeBlanc, Peta's director for Europe, admitted the suggestion is controversial but said: "We can still have very regal-looking guards who look fantastic.
"We felt doing this kind of thing was a way of keeping with the times and keeping that iconic status."
He said Peta campaigners had spoken to people watching the guards at the Palace about the use of the skins of Canadian black bears to make their hats.
"Most people think it's fake fur and when they find out it's real and it takes one bear to make a hat they are appalled.
"Fur farming has been outlawed in Britain but we are paying other people with taxpayers' money. We think we are a modern nation but the Queen's guards are walking round with an entire dead bear on their heads."
Mr LeBlanc, who was born in the United States but is a British citizen, said the MoD spent just over 320,000 on bearskin hats in the past five years. Minister for defence procurement Baroness Taylor will meet him and other Peta representatives tomorrow.
The MoD said it was not against the use of synthetic materials provided they met the requirement for a high quality product that was adequate in all weather.
"Regrettably, a suitable alternative continues to prove elusive."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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