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Written question asked by Rachael Maskell (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.


King's Guards: Uniforms

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has taken recent steps to help end the use of bear skins in the King’s Guard caps.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence remains committed to using human made materials to replace natural fur where they provide a suitable, affordable and sustainable alternative and continues to welcome submissions of test results, from a testing house accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, on synthetic alternatives that meet our criteria.

However, the Department has not yet identified a synthetic alternative that meets the standards required to provide an effective replacement for bearskin ceremonial caps.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
9641
Session
2026-27
Related items
Armed Forces: Uniforms
Monday, 7 September 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Furs Uniforms King's guards
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk