LONDON (AP) — An animal rights group trying to get real fur out of the bearskin caps worn by King's Guards at Buckingham Palace took aim Thursday at the cost of the ceremonial garb.
The price of the caps soared 30% in a year to more than 2,000 pounds ($2,600) apiece for the hats made of black bear fur, the Ministry of Defense said in response to a freedom of information request by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
“Stop wasting taxpayer pounds on caps made from slaughtered wildlife and switch to faux fur today,” the group said in a statement.
A luxury fake fur maker has offered to supply the army with free faux bear fur for 10 years, PETA said.
The military said it was open to exploring alternatives if they pass muster in durability, water protection and appearance. But "no alternative has met all those criteria to date,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
The distinctive tall black hats, worn by guards in bright scarlet tunics, are seen by millions who watch the regular changing of the guard ceremony at the palace. They also appear at other royal events including the annual Trooping the Color ceremony honoring the monarch’s birthday in June.
The cost of the caps rose from 1,560 pounds ($2,035) each in 2022 to 2,040 pounds ($2,660) in 2023, the ministry said. More than 1 million pounds ($1.3 million) was spent on them in the past decade.
The price went up because of a contract change for fur that comes from bears killed in licensed hunts in Canada, the military said. Each cap requires one bear pelt, PETA said.
PETA, hich has been pushing for more than two decades to scrap the fur hats, said each cap requires one bear pelt. The group claimed that the defense department is propping up the “cruel” Canadian bear-hunting industry.
The ministry denied that charge and said if it stopped buying the pelts, it would not reduce the numbers of bears being killed.
Parliament debated the issue in July 2022 after an online petition with more than 100,000 signatures called for using fake fur in the caps.
“This hunting involves the violent killing of bears, with many bears being shot several times,” Martyn Day, then a Scottish National Party member of Parliament, said at the time. “It seems undeniable, therefore, that by continuing to purchase hats made from the fur of black bears the MOD is funding the suffering of bears in Canada by making the baiting and killing of those animals and the sale of their pelts a profitable pursuit for the hunters.”
Day said a poll at the time found 75% of the U.K. population found real bearskins were a bad use of taxpayer money and supported replacing the hats.
He noted that the late Queen Elizabeth II had ceased buying fur for her wardrobe.
Earlier this year, Queen Camilla, wife of King Charles III, pledged to buy no more fur products.
FILE - Soldiers from the Irish Guards march along the Mall as they take part in the Trooping the Color ceremony, in London, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
FILE - Japan's Emperor Naruhito, escorted by Britain's King Charles III inspect the honour guard on Horse Guards parade during the ceremonial welcome for start of the State Visit to Britain by the Emperor and Empress in London, Tuesday, June 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Troops marching down the Mall to Horse Guards parade to take part in the Trooping the Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, in London, Saturday, June 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
FILE - Soldiers attend the Colonel's Review, the final rehearsal of the Trooping the Colour, the King's annual birthday parade, at Horse Guards Parade in London, Saturday, June 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Tomislav Ivisic scored 20 points, Ben Humrichous added 10 and Illinois overcame 18 turnovers to beat Oakland 66-54 on Wednesday night.
Illinois has started a season 3-0 for the fourth time under Brad Underwood, and the second time in three seasons after starting the 2022-23 season 4-0.
Illinois had its lead trimmed to 38-36 early in the second half before going on a 17-4 run for a 55-40 lead. Ivisic started the run, that included 11 straight points, with three made field goals. Oakland was just 2 of 10 from the field during the run.
Ivisic was 9 of 14 from the field, while the rest of his teammates combined to go 14 of 41.
Jayson Woodrich scored 11 points and DQ Cole added 10 for Oakland (1-2). The Grizzlies shot just 38% from the field, including 4 of 25 from 3-point range.
Oakland also turned it over 18 times.
Both teams play a top-five team in their next game. Oakland plays at top-ranked Kansas on Saturday. Illinois has a week off before playing at No. 2 Alabama on Nov. 20 in the C.M. Newton Classic.
Illinois's Tomislav Ivisic (13) drives to the basket as Oakland's Tuburu Naivalurua defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Will Riley shoots over Oakland's Malcolm Christie during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Morez Johnson Jr., left, and Oakland's Allen Mukeba battle for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Tre White (22) drives to the basket as Oakland's Allen Mukeba defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Ben Humrichous dunks the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois's Tomislav Ivisic (13) shoots over Oakland's Allen Mukeba during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)