Fake news... as Camilla shuns real fur hats

THE Duchess of Cornwall has secretly switched to wearing fake fur hats after being hit by a barrage of criticism for sporting an ostentatious real fur hat, I can reveal.

The Duchess was roundly berated for the real fur Russianstyle hat she wore at the Royal Family’s Sandringham Christmas Day church service in 2010.

Since then, she has bought SIX bespoke fake fur-trimmed hats from upmarket firm Lock & Co – and was seen proudly wearing one at this year’s Christmas service.

After the 2010 service, the Duchess was blasted here and abroad, including by The Mail on Sunday’s Liz Jones, who wrote: ‘What a slap in the face to the animal-loving British public. The wearing by our Royal Family of a product that’s deemed too cruel to be produced in this country – fur farms were banned here in 2000 – is simply unacceptable.’

The animal rights group Animal Aid described her choice as ‘an ostentatious display of cruelty’ that ‘says something unpleasant about the person wearing it.’

The offending Russian-style hat was apparently made from ‘vintage fur’ that belonged to her grandmother and was upcycled by milliner Philip Treacy – but the criticism stung.

Her new fake fur hats are all the same design, but come in a variety of colours including deep pink, black, brown, slate and tweed.

A Lock & Co spokeswoman said: ‘Camilla is a customer. The hats are a bespoke order with faux fur trim. The hat sits low on the head and keeps you warm.

‘It’s quite water resistant and good for winter.’

The hat is similar to the company’s ‘Estate’ model but Camilla’s versions do not have a particular name as they are a bespoke order.

Lock & Co, based in London’s smart St James’s Street, boasts a Royal warrant as hatter to the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles.

A fox-fur-trimmed hat sells for £645 at the store.

The Duchess’s red hat last week matched a bright military style coat by Roy Allen. She has worn the other fake fur hats at the recent Grenfell Tower memorial at St Paul’s Cathedral, an official visit to Denmark, and countryside events.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman refused to say whether this meant that Camilla and other Royals have given up fur for good.

But with Prince Harry foregoing his beloved Boxing Day hunt, are we witnessing a significant change in attitude among the Royal Family?