The traditional bear fur hats have been the traditional headdress for the guards of Buckingham Palace for generations. But with an offer from fashion designer Stella McCartney on the table, the world is watching.
Johnson had a smart statement for the media, as noted by The Telegraph, that “he would oppose the synthetic hats if it could be proved ‘that there’s nothing that the bear families like more than the honour of having one of our own paraded around Buckingham Palace on the head of a Guardsman.’”
It’s akin to our long battle to have the RCMP consider alternatives to their traditional muskrat fur hats. After years of petitioning and meetings, the RCMP said their members and the public supported a humane alternative. Despite public grandstanding from the Harper government, the RCMP is continuing with their plan to give members a choice between traditional fur and the fur-free toque.
We’re hoping that Mayor Johnson will stand up for the bears and ensure that the Queen’s Guard has a humane option. Because he’s right: the bears don’t want to be in London.
Photo by Kerri Martin
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