An animal rights group has criticised the British Government for an "indefensible" rise in bearskin cap orders for royal guards, despite a pledge to clamp down on fur imports.
Orders for the tall fur caps worn by the King's Guards outside Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace have risen more than fourfold since the Labour Party took power, according to data obtained by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) under freedom of information laws, rising from 22 caps in 2024 to 96 in 2025.
The black caps, which were introduced following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 to make soldiers appear tall and threatening, cost the Ministry of Defence (MoD) more than stg225,000 ($A420,332) in 2025, marking a nearly eight per cent increase in the price per cap from 2024.
