They're changing hats at Buckingham Palace to save the black bear

by Paul Conneally | August 30, 2008 at 04:03 pm

1720 views | 14 Recommendations | 28 comments

Good news for bears - especially North American bears - the bearskin hats worn by the Queen's Palace Guardsmen are to be replaced by designer hats designed by maybe Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney. The mind boggles at what Westwood might put the guards in. The world waits!

They have perched atop the heads of straight-faced soldiers for almost 200 years, been photographed by millions of tourists and generated countless protests, but now the controversial bearskin hats worn by the Buckingham Palace Guardsmen finally seem likely to be replaced with a more modern, humane alternative.

The imposing Guards Regiments may soon be topping off their red jackets with natty Stella McCartney or Vivienne Westwood creations, after a meeting next week in which senior MoD officials will consider a range of alternative hats created by leading designers.

Baroness Taylor, the minister for defence procurement, who is responsible for acquiring all of the Army's equipment, will meet with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) to review the designs on Tuesday.

"This meeting is hugely significant for our campaign to save North American bears," said Robbie LeBlanc, director of Peta. "If she has a heart and can see the PR nightmare of the MoD continuing to support the Canadian bear slaughter, she can wield her influence and push the MoD to scrap the bearskin caps sooner rather than later."

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PlanMyGreen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:55 on August 30th, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

rpshen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 07:50 on September 2nd, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff. Good news indeed.

rumana husain

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 08:00 on September 2nd, 2008

LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.

bsurma

at 10:46 on September 2nd, 2008

I'm glad that a photo of mine could be used for such a worthy cause. Happy to help!

bsurma has contributed a photo to this story.

MrGsTravels

at 11:52 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks for the invitation to submit my three photos. Personally, I am glad that they are looking to change the hats. I love the style of the hats and the tradition that they represent, but they could use faux fur.

Jack Guilliams

Mr. G's Travels

jamesorr67

at 12:03 on September 2nd, 2008

I had no idea they were still using real bear fur. Definitely time to change. Faux fur would still look the part without the needless killing. Good luck to PETA!

jamesorr67 has contributed a photo to this story.

Filipe Ghirardello

at 12:40 on September 2nd, 2008

Photo taken by: Filipe Ghirardello

July 2008

http://www.flickr.com/photos/feld

Filipe Ghirardello has contributed a photo to this story.

Karly

at 12:56 on September 2nd, 2008

Great story! I'm glad I could contribute a photo...thanks for the invite.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/_paleblueeyes_/

Karly has contributed a photo to this story.

penningm52

at 13:00 on September 2nd, 2008

A quick 10 day visit to England in June with 5 days in London. My family and I witnessed the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

penningm52 has contributed a photo to this story.

brianna sue

at 14:07 on September 2nd, 2008

I was able to witness the Changing of the Guard back in July of 2007. Witnessing the event was spectacular! And now, there are new hat designers working to save the bears, making it an even more unique event. I'm glad I could contribute to the photo gallery!

brianna sue has contributed a photo to this story.

Island Queen Photos

at 15:28 on September 2nd, 2008

June 2008 - I visited the UK as a tourist, and as most tourists, visited Buckingham Palace. I witnessed these guards readying themselves for the regular "changing of the guard" ceremony, and was close enough to capture a close-up glimpse of the guards in their bearskin hats. - Lynda of Island Queen Photos

Island Queen Photos has contributed a photo to this story.

daisy plus three

at 15:32 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks for asking to use my photo of the guards. There is no reason for the fur to be real. I hope this all works out.

Tutu Kazooie

at 16:00 on September 2nd, 2008

I visited the Buckingham Palace in July 2008. I love the story. Thanks.
Tutu Kazooie has contributed a photo to this story.

dogahunt

at 17:45 on September 2nd, 2008

Picture taken in July 2006, very warm day in London. Was a thrill to watch the changing of the guards and there precision. Hard to get the perfect shot through the bars with so many people around.

dogahunt has contributed a photo to this story.

Julie Moo

at 18:24 on September 2nd, 2008

Thanks for including my photo in such an interesting story.

Like many people i had no idea that the hats were still real fur!

bethbrancale

at 20:00 on September 2nd, 2008

It was a warm July day in London and I had a great view of the Palace Guardsmen. They are always such a treat to watch!

bethbrancale has contributed a photo to this story.

TudorSeulean

at 21:37 on September 2nd, 2008

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

TudorSeulean has contributed a photo to this story.

TudorSeulean

at 21:39 on September 2nd, 2008

I didn't know they were using real bear fur for the guards' hats. They should definitely start using a different material so as to save the bears.

mmcontreras74

at 21:48 on September 2nd, 2008

Buckingham Palace, 2007. My brother was afraid to stand too close to the guard for fear he'd trip, bump into him and cause him to use that crazy rifle. I was just excited to finally be there getting this picture!

mmcontreras74 has contributed a photo to this story.