Stephen Fry calls for King's Guard to ditch bearskin hats in favour of fake fur as he backs PETA campaign

Stephen Fry has called for the King's Guard to drop its traditional use of bearskin to make the iconic furry headwear regularly seen on guardsmen at ceremonial events.

Narrating a new campaign video for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the actor has said that the guardsmen should use fake fur instead of the real bearskin fur, saying: "Tradition is never an excuse for cruelty." The famous guards are viewed by millions every year, being stationed outside of Buckingham Palace and taking part in events such as Trooping The Colour.

In the new video, Fry said: "By continuing to purchase caps made of black bear fur, the UK government drives demand for pelts and effectively incentivises hunters. Britain has always prided itself on being sporting, but these bears - lured with cookies to the hunters' hiding place - stand no chance of survival."

In the video, Fry also explained that one bear provides enough fur to make a cap for those who were guests at the King's coronation, adding that the black bears hunted in Canada are often not killed instantly by weapons such as crossbows, instead later dying from infection or blood loss. Kate Werner of PETA says: "The UK government is sponsoring bait-and-kill sport hunting of mothers and other bears."

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the issue, while the Ministry of Defence said that the bearskin used to make the headgear is sourced from "legal and licensed hunts". A spokeswoman for the department said: "To date and to the department's knowledge, an alternative has yet to meet the standards required to provide an effective replacement for the bearskin ceremonial caps."