Queen’s beloved fur coats will now be faux
Palace says new outfits for Her Majesty will use fake pelts and some existing pieces will be altered
The Queen is to stop buying real fur items of clothing, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. The monarch has often been seen in fur coats over her reign, with one particular favourite having been on rotation for decades. But the Palace has signalled she is ready to move with the times, acknowledging that attitudes towards fur have shifted. Any new garments from now on, including coats, hats and ceremonial robes, that require any type of fur, will be made with the fake variety.
SHE has long enjoyed wrapping up in a fur coat, with one particular favourite that has been on rotation for decades.
But Buckingham Palace has signalled that the Queen is ready to move on with the times, acknowledging that attitudes towards fur have shifted.
Any new garments made for the monarch from now on, including coats, hats and ceremonial robes, that require any type of fur, will be made with the fake variety.
Angela Kelly, the Queen’s long-time dressmaker and confidante, reveals in her new memoir: “If Her Majesty is due to attend an engagement in particularly cold weather, from 2019 onwards fake fur will be used to make sure she stays warm.”
In the book, The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe, Ms Kelly notes that a coat worn by the Queen in Slovakia in 2008 has since been altered, the mink trim replaced with fake fur.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed: “As new outfits are designed for the Queen, any fur used will be fake.”
However, sources confirmed that the change in direction will only concern new garments.
The Queen will continue to wear the existing pieces in her wardrobe made with fur, from coats and hats to ceremonial robes.
She has been criticised by animal rights charities for continuing to wear fur, despite multiple high-fashion houses abandoning use of the “cruel” product.
Her new approach was welcomed by activists.
Claire Bass, the executive director of Humane Society International said: “We are thrilled that Her Majesty has officially gone fur-free.
“Queen Elizabeth’s decision to ‘go faux’ is the perfect reflection of the mood of the British public, the vast majority of whom detest cruel fur, and want nothing to do with it.
“Our Head of State going fur-free sends a powerful message that fur is firmly out of fashion and does not belong with Brand Britain.
“The UK banned fur farming almost two decades ago because it was deemed too cruel, now we must finish the job and ban fur sales too.
“We are calling on the British government to follow Her Majesty’s example and make the UK the first country in the world to ban the sale of animal fur.”
The Duchess of Cambridge wears fur, but ensures it comes from ethical sources.
One of her favourite items, in which she has been seen multiple times, is a brown hat made from the pelts of alpacas that died of natural causes.
She is such a fan of the Fairtrade brand Peruvian Connection that she has many of their alpaca hats in different colours.
The UK was the first country in the world to ban fur farming on ethical grounds, although it still allows animal fur to be imported from other countries including Finland, Poland and China.
Many fashion houses have banned real fur after protests from animal rights organisations, including Gucci, Calvin Klein, Stella Mccartney, Vivienne Westwood, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Armani and Hugo Boss.
However, the British Fur Trade Association (BFTA) has warned against bans, arguing that it is sustainable, plastic-free and lasts a long time.
A BFTA spokesman said: “The Royal family have been at the forefront of championing animal welfare and conservation efforts across the globe for many years, something that aligns fully with responsibly sourced fur.
“Natural fur is one of the most sustainable and long-lasting natural products available, so despite what animal rights groups would claim, we are sure that the Royal family will continue to wear responsibly-sourced fur.”
1950s and 1980s: the Queen opts for a fur shawl; 1960s and 1990s: wearing a brown coat, one of Her Majesty’s favourites; 1970s: keeping out the Canadian chill; 2000s: in white ceremonial robes to open Parliament; 2013: Christmas at Sandringham