Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge
Clarence House
St James' Palace
London SW1 1BA
Dear Duke & Duchess
Britain is a nation of animal lovers. It is a nation whose people give generously to animal charities; where millions have pet animals; and where many national symbols incorporate the animals with whom we share our nation and planet.
Like many thousands of British people, we were enormously disappointed to learn that you plan to visit the Calgary Stampede on your forthcoming visit to Canada. This is a spectacle of such undeniable animal cruelty that such acts were banned in Britain by an Act of Parliament under King George V almost eighty years ago.
It is legitimate for people to ask, if you were to visit the Philippines, would you visit a cock fight? In India, would you go bear baiting? In Afghanistan, a dog fight?
We expect the answer would be no. But you do plan to represent Britain at a grotesque exhibition of animal abuse abhorred by the right thinking majority of Britons.
Over the last three days, our supporters have sent almost 7,000 emails to your private office, expressing disappointment at your choice of holiday activity. We don't believe that any of these people has received a response, but we now discover that the emails are being blocked.
So rather than respond to these valid concerns about animal welfare, your office is burying its head in the sand. In a week when royal finances have been subjected to detailed scrutiny, can you really afford to keep having such public relations disasters?
We urge you to reflect the will of this nation of animal lovers, and reject the Stampede. At the very least, we ask you to issue a statement to those people who took the time to email you.
Yours faithfuly
Steve Taylor
Head of Campaigns & Communications
League Against Cruel Sports
This open letter was sent by email on 1st July 2011 at 1.00am.