Did You Know Queen Elizabeth Chose Kindness Over Cruelty by Banishing Fur from her Royal Wardrobe?

On September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, the Queen passed away at her home in Balmoral. Following a 70-year historic time on the throne, Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II’s quintessential style has never failed to make a fashion statement.

Over the course of her reign, the Queen was known for her closeness towards her beloved dogs and had always spoken against cruelty towards animals. PETA remembers Queen Elizabeth II for evolving with the times and, although there had been no stigma attached to wearing fur when she rose to the throne, she chose kindness over cruelty in recent years by banishing fur from her wardrobe.

Ingrid Newkirk, founder, PETA, recollects her meeting Her Majesty in 1961 in India. “Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth of England took the throne at a time when wearing fur was not only acceptable, but desirable. In 1961, during her and Prince Phillip’s visit to New Delhi, I met her and heard that, as much as she loved her experience in India, she missed her beloved dogs when she travelled abroad,” expresses Ingrid.

Even Prince Diana had always rejected fur, and following suit were the other royals who honoured the Queen’s decision. She further adds, “I had no idea then that her heart would open to fur-bearing animals, too. But it did, and some years ago the late Queen banned fur from the royal wardrobe. Princess Diana had always rejected fur, and other royals have followed suit, honouring the Queen’s legacy in the spirit of ahimsa.”

While the Queen chose kindness over cruelty, Ingrid hopes and wishes the Ministry of Defence honours her legacy by replacing the bear fur used to make the royal guards’ caps with faux fur. “The Queen lived a life in service to British values, and we are respectfully requesting that the Ministry of Defence honour her legacy by replacing the bears’ fur used to make the royal guards’ caps with faux fur fit for the 21st century monarch of an animal-loving nation. In this period of transition, a changing of the King’s Guard’s caps would spare these magnificent animals’ lives and represent the continued evolution of our modern monarchy,” shares Ingrid.