Has Kate made a fur faux pas?

Kate Middleton prompted outrage from animal lovers by wearing what seemed to be a real fur scarf on a night out with Prince William.

Animal rights group Peta said in a statement this afternoon: "We hope Kate is not using dead animals to try to impress her bloodthirsty boyfriend. Fur farming has been banned in Britain because most people abhor cruelty to animals.

"If Kate is wearing real fur, she should be ashamed of herself for promoting the most violent and bloody industry on the planet.î

One might have expected a rather more restrained approach from Miss Middleton after Madonna caused a similar outrage less than 24 hours earlier. As London Lite revealed yesterday, the singer wore a £35,000 coat made from the skins of 40 chinchillas.

Miss Middleton and William, both 24, left Mayfair nightspot Mahiki at 2am today after an evening with Tom Parker Bowles and his wife Sara Buys.

The scarf appears to be made from rabbit fur. If it turns out to be real, rather than faux fur, it will not be the first time she caused such controversy. In March Miss Middleton wore what appeared to be a mink hat at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The bobble scarf she wore last night is similar to a rabbit fur owned by Tom Parker Bowles's mother, the Duchess of Cornwall. Camilla, a keen huntswoman, provoked animal rights campaigners by wearing it to a public engagement.