Heavy and 30% Price Increase... UK "Changing Guards' Bearskin Hats to Synthetic?"

Purchase budget reaches 1.75 billion KRW over 10 years
Ministry of National Defense: "Will replace if products meeting requirements are available"

The price of the black bearskin hat, a symbol of the British royal guards, has risen by 30% in one year, putting it under scrutiny. In particular, the budget spent on replacing the bearskin hats over the past decade has reached about 1 million pounds (approximately 1.75 billion KRW), prompting some animal protection groups to raise their voices, saying, "Stop wasting taxpayers' money on hats made from the slaughter of wild animals and switch to faux fur."

The bearskin hat, known as "Bearskin (곰 모피)," worn by the royal guards is a symbol of the royal guard. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, it became a symbol of victory for the British Guards and is still seen today not only at official ceremonies such as the King's official birthday and state visits but also regularly in front of Buckingham Palace.
[Photo by AP·Yonhap News]

On the 12th (local time), the British BBC cited data released by the Ministry of Defence following a freedom of information request from animal protection groups, reporting that the price of the guards' bearskin hats rose from 1,560 pounds (about 2.73 million KRW) per piece in 2022 to 2,040 pounds (3.57 million KRW) last year due to changes in the supply contract. The number of newly purchased bearskin hats was 13 in 2022 and 24 last year.

The guards' bearskin hat, called "Bearskin," is a symbol of the royal guards and has been a symbol of the British guards' victory since the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. It is still seen not only at official royal birthday events and state visits but also regularly in front of Buckingham Palace. As the name suggests, it is made from Canadian black bear fur. PETA, an animal protection organization, criticized the bearskin hats made from black bear fur, stating, "The hunting methods for black bears are cruel, and one bear is needed to make one hat," and urged, "Stop wasting taxpayers' money on hats obtained from the slaughter of wild animals and switch to faux fur."

As controversy over the Bearskin grew, the Ministry of Defence stated, "We are open to exploring faux fur alternatives if they meet the requirements," but drew a line by saying, "So far, no alternatives have passed all standards such as safety and durability." They also rebutted animal protection groups by saying, "Bear fur has been obtained through legal hunting under the regulation of Canadian authorities." The ministry's position is that while the guards wear the hats, they must not get wet, and there is a difference in quality between bear fur and faux fur in terms of moisture absorption and shape retention.

Meanwhile, due to the bearskin hats, British guards often collapse during ceremonies. At the end of June, during a rehearsal for the state visit of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to the UK, a guard fainted from the heat.
[Photo by AP and Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, accidents where British guards collapse during ceremonies due to the Bearskin have occurred frequently. At the end of June, during the rehearsal for the state visit of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to the UK, a guard fainted from the heat. The rehearsal took place amid a heatwave with daytime temperatures in London exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. The collapsed guard fainted from the heat but was able to get up only after being supported by surrounding soldiers. In June last year, several guards fainted consecutively during the rehearsal for King Charles III's birthday celebration.

The guards suffered from the heat while wearing woolen military uniforms and hats made of bear fur, with at least three collapsing. Some guards who fainted were carried out on stretchers. As fainting incidents repeated, calls were made to improve the working conditions of the guards. An overseas netizen pointed out, "The hat, weighing about 3 pounds (1.3 kg), is made of black bear fur and leather, making it heavy and heat-retaining. The rest of the uniform is also very heavy," adding, "The combination of the weight of the clothes, standing still all day, and the recent heatwaves creates a perfect recipe for fainting."