Animal rights campaigners have condemned the government for an "indefensible" surge in orders for bearskin caps worn by royal guards, directly contradicting earlier pledges to restrict fur imports. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) revealed that orders for the distinctive tall fur caps, donned by the King’s Guards stationed outside Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace, have escalated more than fourfold since the Labour party assumed power.
Data secured by Peta through freedom of information requests shows a significant increase from 22 caps in 2024 to 96 for 2025. This rise comes with a substantial cost to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which spent over £225,000 on the caps in 2025. The price per cap also saw a nearly 8 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
