Campaigners urge fake fur for palace guards
LONDON, England (CNN) — Animal rights campaigners were holding a meeting Tuesday with Britain’s Ministry of Defence to argue against the use of bearskin in the iconic furry headgear worn by royal guards at Buckingham Palace.
Robbie LeBlanc, European director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), was meeting with Ann Taylor, the minister for defense equipment and support, the defense ministry said.
We are hoping that they will switch to a humane synthetic alternative, a PETA spokeswoman said.
PETA has been campaigning for years against the use of bearskin in the headgear, a familiar symbol of London worn by the guards who keep watch over royal buildings like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The hats are part of the footguards’ ceremonial dress, along with the bright red jackets.
PETA says the bears used to produce the fur hats are killed cruelly and unnecessarily.
