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Queen criticised for wearing fur coat to Christmas Day service

The coat was highlighted by animals rights groups in 2013 

Heather Saul
Friday 25 December 2015 12:02 EST
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The Queen has been criticised for wearing a fur coat to attend a Christmas Day mass in Sandringham.

Queen Elizabeth II was pictured wearing a brown fur coat as she stepped out of her car for the service, before changing into a red coat with a grey fur trim.

The 89-year-old has been seen in the coat on various occasions since as far back as 1961, according to Sky News. A number of people commented on her decision to wear the coat again on social media.

The Queen was criticised for wearing it in 2013 by the animal rights charity Peta, who said in a statement at the time: "How can Queen Elizabeth not yet have learned what's right and wrong and abandoned fur, the product of immense suffering.

"Animals are routinely strangled, electrocuted and skinned alive for their pelts. Fur farming was banned in 2000 because it’s a cruel industry that no longer represents British values.

"We truly hope that the Queen gets with these more enlightened times and chooses to wear something more humane in the future."

The Queen attended the mass with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and other members of the Royal family including Prince Andrew.

A spokesperson for Kensington Palace said the Queen was attending a private engagement and declined to comment.

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