Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging him to phase out the use of bearskin caps for the Queen's Guards.
The distinctive headgear has been used by the British Army since the 1815 victory over Napoleon and is made from real bear pelts.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, Anderson, 54, described the continued use of bear fur as 'unconscionable'.
It is a view shared by American animal rights organisation PETA, who claim that the British government spent more than £1million on 891 bearskin caps, all of which are purely ornamental and "Serve no military purpose".
During his time as Mayor of London, Boris Johnson argued synthetic fur caps should be used "if they would help save a few bears”.
Ms Anderson wrote: "As you probably know, it takes the fur of at least one bear – who was likely baited and gunned down – to make just one of these ornamental caps.
"Some of these bears are nursing mothers whose cubs will slowly die without them there to protect and care for them.
"Mr Johnson, there is nothing more important for people in positions of power to do than protect the vulnerable.
"Please instruct the Ministry of Defence to make the switch to cruelty-free faux fur."
Her calls coincide with PETAs release of the world's first faux bear fur with artisan faux fur company ECOPEL, which Ms Anderson said '"looks and feels exactly like the real deal - but doesn't harm a hair on a bear's head."
The glamour model-turned animal rights activist has campaigned on a variety of animal welfare issues in the past, including on seal-clubbing and fur farms in her native Canada.
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