It’s the quintessentially British rural jacket beloved by members of the Royal Family, prime ministers and was even given as a gift to US President Joe Biden.

But now the Barbour coat, with its famed olive-green, wax coated design, is allegedly finding a new group of fans – the far right.

That’s according to the woke brigade online who say the traditional rustic fashion garb is ‘fast becoming a new overt symbol for the right’, after thousands of farmers protested against Keir Starmer’s tax grab in London.

Many of those at Tuesday’s rally appeared to be sporting a Barbour – which can retail for anything from £300 to almost £1,200 – during the march, attended by the likes of ex-Top Gear host, Jeremy Clarkson, and Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage.

In a viral tweet on X, seen more than two million times, one person wrote: ‘The Barbour jacket is fast becoming a new overt symbol for the right’, with another adding: ‘Barbour Jackets are clearly the new uniform for a new reign of terror.’

According to Vogue, demand for British fashion label has skyrocketed, driven by the ‘Jilly Cooper effect’, following the success of the Disney show based on her popular book.

But the items have been a beloved fashion accessory of the Royal Family for decades, with the late Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, Princes William and Harry, and their late mother, Diana the Princess of Wales, all having sported the jackets.

And more recently model and TV personality Alexa Chung unveiled her latest collaboration with the British heritage brand, which she has worked with several times over the past 10 years.

Queen Elizabeth owned the brand’s Beaufort coat for 25 years and famously declined the company’s offer for an updated version.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have also embraced the classic designs – and Princes William and Harry wore Barbour jackets as children.

Canadian fashion writer Derek Guy said the jackets have always been ‘vaguely conservative coded’.

‘But this doesn’t mean you can’t wear it if you don’t share those political views. It’s all about knowing the different levels of Barbour,’ he wrote on X.

‘I don’t think its political connotations should prevent you from wearing one if you like the look. You don’t have to be a royalist to wear a Barbour; you can just like the look and wear it because it makes you happy.’

The fifth-generation family-owned business, based in the north east, is led by Dame Margaret Barbour, 84, who serves as chairman, and her daughter, Helen, who is the vice chairman.

Established in 1894 in South Shields’ Market Place, Barbour is famed for its timeless waxed jackets.

In 1964, Dame Margaret married John Barbour, the great-grandson of the brand’s founder.

Following John’s sudden death from a brain haemorrhage in 1968 at the age of 29, Dame Margaret stepped into the family business, working closely with his mother, Nancy ‘Granny’ Barbour.

Not long after, Queen Elizabeth came to embody the quintessential Barbour style, defined by practicality.

Numerous photos from the 1970s show her at Windsor and Balmoral, wearing various jackets paired with kilts, walking shoes and Hermes headscarves.

The late monarch famously declined to part with her beloved Beaufort coat, despite receiving an offer of a new one.

Margaret once revealed that she offered Elizabeth a new coat, worth around £300, in celebration of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

But, instead, the Queen opted for Barbour’s renowned ‘re-waxing service’ to refresh her well-worn favourite.

‘It’s very desirable to have a very well-worn Barbour jacket,’ Dame Margaret said, admitting that the brand had something of a ‘snob quality’.

Dame Margaret added: ‘[She] wanted her long Barbour jacket re-waxing and we said, “We’d love to do this, Ma’am”, to her secretary, of course.

Queen Elizabeth is thought to have owned her Beaufort jacket for more than 25 years.

Designed in 1982, the waterproof waxed cotton coating and bellow pockets were inspired by styles that Dame Margaret had seen during a trip to France.

Dame Margaret, alongside managing director Steve Buck and her daughter, has kept customers satisfied by updating the classic styles without compromising on quality.

The iconic waxed jackets are still made in the North East of England, while other products are produced worldwide.

Other notable royal fans include King Charles and the late Princess Diana, who favoured the mid-length Burghley coat in 1985.

Kate owns no less than five styles, including the signature Ladies Waxed Defence Jacket, which she acquired in 2012, and the Barbour by Alexa Chung Edith Jacket.

She has worn the latter on four occasions since debuting the design in 2020.

Crafted from glossy waxed-cotton, it features the brand’s trademark detailing, including a concealed two-way zip fastening, corduroy collar and checked lining.

In 1974, Barbour was granted its first Royal Warrant by Prince Philip. It received its second from Queen Elizabeth in 1982 and its third from the then Prince Charles in 1987.

In June 2023, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presented a personalised Barbour to President Biden during a visit to the United States.

Among those famously supportive of the brand included US movie icon and motorcycle enthusiast Steve McQueen.

Barbour has become increasingly popular in America in recent years, after appearing in the like of The Crown and episodes of Succession.

Reform Party boss Nigel Farage, who was seen at the farmers’ protest in London on Tuesday, also appeared to be sporting a Barbour.